April 22, 2009 3:27:44 am
UT Administrator General S F Rodrigues (Retd) has restored Advisor Pradip Mehras powers to write the annual confidential reports (ACRs) of his subordinate officers. The decision comes almost three months after the Ministry of Home Affairs first sent a directive to this effect to the UT Administration.
Mehra was stripped of his powers on the basis of an inquiry ordered against him after a pseudonymous letter,accusing him of misusing the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Corporation funds at his official residence in Delhi,reached the Administrator last year. The inquiry was marked to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC),which found no substance in the complaint and exonerated Mehra of the charges.
Rodrigues,however,did not restore Mehras powers even after the CVCs clean chit.
Reacting to this,the MHA sent another communiqué on March 31,asking the Administration to immediately restore Mehras powers.
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While Mehra did not wish to comment on finally getting back his powers,UT Home Secretary Ram Niwas admitted to receiving the Administrators orders,but refused to divulge further details.
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