New Delhi: A two-member Committee of the
Union Environment Ministry has brought out in vivid details the harassment suffered by an honest Indian Forest Service official in Haryana including at the hands of Chief Minister`s
office following which a CBI has been recommended into the
whole affair.
Suspension of the 2002 batch IFS officer, Sanjiv
Chaturvedi, was revoked by President Pratibha Patil last month
following the submission of the report by the Committee
which was appointed by the Cabinet Secretary.
It was headed by Inspector General of Forests A K
Shrivastava and had Shally Ranjan, AIG as the other member.
The Cabinet Secretary formed the two-member probe
panel after the President received a complaint from
Chaturvedi alleging that he was being harrassed by the state`s
Congress Government for taking action against violators of
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and orders of Supreme Court.
The harassment came in the form of frequent transfers,
12 in five years, suspension and fabricated charge sheet that
was "deliberately" kept pending.
"....the role of CM office has been more than evident,
in removing the officer from the scene, at the detection of
any scam/ violation.
"Since, it cannot be possible for any State agency to
conduct enquiry into the working of CM office, hence it should
be immediately referred to Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) as prima-facie there are very strong evidences against
CM office," the Committee said.
In his complaint Chaturvedi had stated that he was
subjected to "continuous harassment" for past three years in
the form of illegal suspension by State Government for
exposing large-scale irregularities in various projects,
development of herbal park on private land belonging to
politically influential persons and preventing the destruction
of Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary from influential contractors.
The Committee found that there is strong evidence
regarding the personal involvement of the then Forest Minister
Kiran Chaudhary in the matter and recommended the CBI probe.
"Regarding the role of Mrs Kiran Chaudhary, the then
Forest Minister, in the whole episode and in view of the
illegality involved in her decisions for furthering and
perpetuating private vested interests at the cost of public
money, a CBI enquiry should be immediately ordered, as there
are strong evidences to suggest her personal involvement in
the matter," the Committee said.
"This should also involve the owners of the said
private land (who as per the officer belong to the family/
relatives of independent MLA, Prahlad Singh Gillakhera,
supporting the present government from outside).
PTI
