JODHPUR: Quashing the suspension orders of a forest official, HC on Aug 28 stated the need for careful consideration before suspending civil servants under the Rajasthan Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1958.
Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur, in his order ruled that suspensions should be based on well-documented reasons rather than arbitrary instructions, circulars, or informal directives. The HC noted that suspending an employee without proper justification or relying on vague instructions constitutes an abuse of power. The court came up with the order while hearing a petition moved by Ashok Singh, posted as range forest officer (Grade II) in Anupgarh, challenging his suspension orders led by the demand of the agitators following death of two Chinkaras on June 2024.
"Three arrests had been made in this relation but under the pressure of the agitators from the villages around, the department issued suspension orders of petitioner on July 21, 2024. This was done without application of mind as there was no fault on the part of petitioner, whatsoever," said his counsel Pramendra Bohra. The court, said, "The suspension, though not punishment, is required to be effected with due caution and vigilance and a civil servant could be placed under suspension without due application of mind and without examining the need to do so".
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