MAT directs state to revoke Parbhani district sports officer’s suspension

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT), Aurangabad bench, directed the state govt to revoke the suspension of Parbhani district's sports officer, Kavita Subhash Navande-Nimbalkar, who, along with a subordinate, was arrested last year by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in connection with an alleged demand for a bribe for clearing pending bills of Rs 95 lakh.In its order dated February 11, the tribunal allowed the original application filed by Navande-Nimbalkar and directed the authorities to revoke her suspension order dated April 3, 2025, within three weeks of receipt of the order. The tribunal also ordered the issuance of a consequential reinstatement order within the same period.Navande-Nimbalkar, 52, was serving as district sports officer when an FIR was registered against her at Nava Mondha police station in Parbhani. The complaint pertained to seeking an alleged bribe in sanctioning bills related to the construction of a swimming pool at a sports academy in Manwat and the organisation of a Kabaddi competition.According to the complaint, bills totalling Rs95 lakh were pending before the officer, and a demand for money was allegedly made to clear them. It was alleged that a co-accused demanded Rs 50,000 for himself and Rs 2 lakh for Navande-Nimbalkar. On March 13, 2025, the complainant allegedly handed over Rs1 lakh to Navande-Nimbalkar for processing and sanctioning the bills.Following registration of the FIR on March 27, 2025, she was arrested and subsequently placed under deemed suspension under Rule 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(c) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (discipline and appeal) Rules, 1979. The suspension order, issued on April 3, 2025, was made effective retrospectively from March 27, 2025. She was booked under Sections 7, 7A and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.Appearing for the applicant, advocate Abhishek Avinash Aghav contended that no charge sheet was filed in the criminal case and no departmental enquiry was initiated even after completion of 90 days from the date of suspension. He argued that the prolonged suspension amounted to administrative injustice and arbitrariness, and restricted his claim to revocation of suspension and reinstatement.The tribunal, presided over by Shri Ashutosh N Karmarkar, relied on the Supreme Court's ruling in Ajaykumar Choudhari Vs Union of India, which holds that suspension should not extend beyond 3 months if a memorandum of charges or charge sheet is not served within that period. It also referred to a Govt Resolution dated April 22, 2025, mandating termination of suspension if no disciplinary or judicial proceedings commence within 3 months.Observing that the issue of revocation was not effectively placed before the suspension review committee in a timely manner, the tribunal ordered revocation of the suspension and reinstatement within 3 weeks. No order was passed as to cost.