Tribunal accepts IAS officer’s plea on retirement benefits, disbursement soon

CHENNAI: Senior IAS officer Ashok Vardhan Shetty’s petition seeking his voluntary retirement benefits be granted has been allowed by the Central Administrative Tribunal. A bench of G Shanthappa, judicial member and O P Sosamma, administrative member, passed orders and directed the state government to disburse the benefits within three months.
In his petition, Shetty said his notice to proceed on a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) was rejected by the chief secretary, public department, in December 2011, with the latter saying there was an inquiry pending against Shetty.
Due to “certain pressing personal reasons”, he submitted his VRS notice on September 8, 2011 under Rule 16 (2) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958.
According to this rule, a member of the service may retire when he completes 30 years or attains 50 years of age, provided at least three months notice is given. A notice under this rule does not require acceptance by state or Centre, he said. His notice was rejected under the Rule 16(2)(a), which requires acceptance by the Centre. Moreover, the chief secretary ordered a preliminary inquiry against him by the DVAC seven days before his notice period was due to expire in December 9, 2011.