No official word about 'fresh' notice to Sharma

LUCKNOW: Mum was the word for thestate government on Monday on the 10-page inquiry notice outside the house ofsuspended former principal secretary environment RK Sharma with regards to hisalleged role in the Taj Heritage Corridor (THC) project.While topbureaucrats remained elusive for the media, some others termed the developmentas a routine move which followed the suspension of any officer: A detailedinquiry and framing of charges against the accused. What adds a pinch of salt tosuch an explanation is the fact that if this was the case then why was the stategovernment so quiet on the notice issue? This was something which even Sharmawas not willing to talk about.Reports maintain that a group of menaccompanied by a police team had reached the government accommodation of RKSharma in Lucknow on Sunday night and enquired about the IAS officer. Sharma wasrecently suspended by chief minister Mayawati for the alleged irregularitiescommitted in the THC project after the preliminary inquiry into the lapsesconducted by finance secretary NC Bajpai held Sharma prime-facie guilty ofmisconduct.The 10-page notice, reports said, sought replies fromSharma within a fortnight. This again, IAS officers insist, is a routine move tocomplete an inquiry. “Any suspension which follows a preliminary enquiryhas to be preceded by a detailed inquiry and framing of charges within 30 daysof suspension or the suspension can be deemed cancelled,� pointed out asenior bureaucrat. “Since the government appears to beprepared for supporting the suspension of RK Sharma, this notice wasissued,� he added.As the charges are prepared on the basis ofthe findings of the preliminary inquiry, it is left to the choice of thebureaucrat against whom the action is deemed to be taken, to either reply to thecharges or seek permission to quiz other officers associated with the project inorder to interpolate the lapse. What remains surprising about the notice issuedto RK Sharma is that neither there is a mention of the officer conducting theinquiry nor does it clearly state about the authority having issued thenotice.Another IAS officer, familiar with the legal technicalitiesof suspension and the proceedings thereon, said that when an officer challengedhis suspension ordered on the basis of any preliminary enquiry in a court of lawthen the normal “next step� was not to accept the chargesheet inperson. “This helps the officer in the legal battle in many ways,�he said without elaborating what all benefits could be by not accepting achargesheet.While chief secretary DS Bagga could not be contactedtill late on Monday for a comment on the issue, principal secretary to chiefminister PL Punia and secretary appointment RS Bhonwal, too, were not availablefor comments with regards to the officer conducting the inquiry against Sharma.RK Sharma, who is in Delhi, was also not available on phone till late eveningon Monday.