Govt hits back at Shanker

In a statement,the government said going abroad without getting leave sanctioned is in violation of rule 3 of the All-India Services rules 1968 as well as All-India Services (leave) Rules 1955,formulated by the Personnel and Training Department,Government of India.

It said by making “baseless allegations on the state government”,she had violated rules of conduct of services,which say “every member of the service shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of a member of the service”.

The government said the “indisciplinary act by a senior officer like her would leave a bad effect on other IAS officers in the state” and by going to the media,she started a “wrong tradition”.

A 1976-batch IAS officer,Shanker was Commissioner of the National Capital Region Cell of UP government before her suspension.

In a letter to the Centre,she had alleged the actual reason for her suspension was her objection to the master plan of the UP government for “massive urbanisation” by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority.

The government said,“On September 2,2011 she informed about her sudden leave on September 5 and September 6 to go to Colombo through a letter. Through a letter dated February 3,2011,she went on five days’ leave from February 7 to South Africa. Though a undated letter,she informed about her sudden leave from June 20 to June 24 for her trip to Sweden.”

It said she went on leave to Dhaka on June 5 and June 6 and informed the government through a letter dated March 3,2011. Then,informing the government through a letter dated September 9,2010,she went on a trip to Canada from September 14 to September 20.

On September 9,the government decided to suspend her for going on foreign trips without getting her leave sanctioned. On September 23,the government served her a chargesheet.

Asked about the chargesheet,Promilla said she stands by her statements and will continue to fight her case.