Ex-top official takes fight for retirement benefits to tribunal

K.Ashok Vardhan Shetty an I.A.S officer of 1983 batch of Tamil Nadu cadre has sought the intervention of Central Administrative Tribunal (C.A.T) Chennai Branch for directing the state government to release his retirement benefits by accepting the resignation letter. Probably he is aggrieved by the state government’s order transferring him to a lackluster post namely Special Commissioner of Archives and historical Research last May by the new dispensation. It is a part of the game in today’s system. One has to have a big heart and tide over the situation unless he has an alternative avocation readily available for engagement. As usual the government will take revenge or try to teach the person a lesson by starting an enquiry to gain time and harass the individual as much as possible. In this case the officer served three months notice on September 8, 2011 for voluntary retirement under Rule 16(2) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules 1958 but the VRS was rejected and a vigilance enquiry ordered just seven days before the expiry of the notice period i.e December 9, 2011. The immediate provocation may be that the person was close to a politician in the previous regime and tried to implement the schemes of the government in all serious ways. When a person wants to retire peacefully one should be allowed to do so by setting a good precedent unless a strong and compelling reason like embezzlement of funds exists or is caught red-handed in office. The act of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption is at times not above board like in the case of CBI at the Centre. Anyone can be taken to task for anything he has done in the career. Motive behind such vindictive actions should be flawless and purely on merits. Otherwise civil services would be totally ruined and society would stand to lose an impartial and efficient administration. I am doubtful whether this officer would get justice in the hands of C.A.T. After all it is headed by our brethren having less and less courage to question the wrong doings of the system or the set-up. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++