104 days after his arrest,govt suspends NRHM accused Shukla

“Now he would be able to get his suspension allowance. He is deemed suspended since the date of his custody on May 10. He has informed the state government about his release from jail. So he is now attached to Board of Revenue,” said Principal Secretary (Appointment) Rajiv Kumar.

When asked about the joining report that was given by Shukla to Chairman of the Board of Revenue V K Sharma,Kumar said Shukla informed him that he is now back.

On August 16,the Allahabad High Court had sought to know from the state government as to how Shukla resumed office in the Board of Revenue after his release from jail. The court had also reportedly expressed its anguish on the delay by the Centre in sanctioning prosecution against Shukla. Kumar,meanwhile,said he is still to get the court order.

Although rules say that a government officer is “deemed as suspended” if he is arrested and remains in custody for 48 hours,no formal suspension order was issued to Shukla till Tuesday.

Shukla,who was NRHM Mission Director from 2009-11 and also former Principal Secretary of Family Welfare,was arrested by the CBI on May 10. He was posted as Member (Judicial) of Board of of Revenue at the time of his arrest. He was second highest-ranking official accused in the scam after former family welfare minister Babu Singh Kushwaha,who is still behind bars.