Trimbak Tupe wants to reinstate six tainted officials

AURANGABAD: Municipal commissioner Om Prakash Bakoria on Wednesday shot down mayor Trimbak Tupe’s bid to reinstate five suspended officers of the civic body, saying that some of these officials could be prosecuted under different charges.
The mayor had said that, “We are paying 50% to 75% salary to these suspended officers; let them resume duty and work subject to the outcome of the departmental inquiry against them”.He had also cited shortage of staff, to substantiate his proposal.
The general body meeting was held to discuss various issues and was as the last meeting of Tupe and Pramod Rathod as mayor and deputy mayor.
Soon after the meeting began, the administration’s proposal for confirmation of suspension of city engineer Sakharam Panzade came before the general body. The administration has also proposed institution of a departmental inquiry against him.
But, many corporators and the mayor chose to take the opposite line and discussed the financial ramifications. They suggested that instead of paying a part of their salaries for no work, they be reinstated to save the money, subject to the outcome of their departmental inquiry.
Bakoria said that he would not revoke the suspension of the officials. He said many officials could be prosecuted under different charges for causing losses to the civic body.
The mayor, however, gave the ruling that six officers be reinstated. They are: city engineer Panzade, assistant director of town planning D P Kulkarni, chief fire officer Shivaji Zanzan, deputy engineers R P Waghmare and Shirish Ramteke, and the civic body’s director of zoo B S Naikwade. The mayor also made it clear that the general body has given its decision, and now its up to the municipal commissioner to take a call.