Bureaucrat puts first-time minister in dock

Himachal Pradeshs top bureaucrat is once again in the dock for allegedly getting first-time minister Sudhir Sharma to sign an official communication granting sanction to the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for the prosecution of former minister and sitting BJP MLA Rajeev Bindal.

Himachal Pradeshs top bureaucrat is once again in the dock for allegedly getting first-time minister Sudhir Sharma to sign an official communication granting sanction to the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for the prosecution of former minister and sitting BJP MLA Rajeev Bindal.

The case pertains to an illegal recruitment scam during Bindals tenure as chairman in Solan Municipal Committee in 1998-99. He was subsequently elected MLA from Solan in 1999-2000 following a bypoll. A case was registered against him in 2006 under Sections 420,468,471 and 120-B of IPC besides 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The chargesheet has now been filed by the Vigilance department after getting a fresh prosecution sanction letter dated July 9,2013,signed by Principal Secretary (Urban Development),K Sanjay Murthy.

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As per government business rules,the department secretary or next senior-most administrative officer,is the one authorised to grant sanctions for criminal prosecutions. Since the case was against a politician from the opposition party,the Congress minister s signatory could have really put the vigilance agency in a sticky situation in court.

Highly places sources said Additional Chief Secretary P Mitra who was secretary (Urban Development) when Sharma signed the letter has now been asked to explain the error. How do I know that its the secretary,not me,who is legally authorised to sign the sanction? Anyone else in my place could have landed in trouble. I believed in him (Mitra) as he was the senior-most bureaucrat, Sharma said.

Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy agreed. What has happened is not proper. The minister should not have been asked to sign the letter. Sources said the CM has taken a serious view of the lapse and Roy has been asked to seek an explanation from the officer.

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Bureaucrat puts first-time minister in dock

Himachal Pradeshs top bureaucrat is once again in the dock for allegedly getting first-time minister Sudhir Sharma to sign an official communication granting sanction to the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for the prosecution of former minister and sitting BJP MLA Rajeev Bindal.

Himachal Pradeshs top bureaucrat is once again in the dock for allegedly getting first-time minister Sudhir Sharma to sign an official communication granting sanction to the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for the prosecution of former minister and sitting BJP MLA Rajeev Bindal.