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MUMBAI, July 22: Two corporators have accused Municipal Secretary Sudha Khire of misusing her powers in promoting a civic employee to the...

MUMBAI, July 22: Two corporators have accused Municipal Secretary Sudha Khire of misusing her powers in promoting a civic employee to the post of personal assistant to the Mayor and misinforming the Standing Committee.Corporators Ravindra Pawar Congress and Ram Mhatre Shiv Sena made the allegations during the Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday and demanded setting up of a sub-committee to probe into the matter.

The corporators charged that when promotion was due Khire recommended the name of V R Anna Reddy to the post of personal assistant PA to the Mayor though there was another senior contender M K Naik entitled to the post.

Khire had recommended Reddy8217;s name and showed that Naik had remained absent during the period April 19 to May 11 due to which he forfeited his elevation, the corporators added. Reddy was appointed Mayor8217;s PA on April 19, 1999. Naik, in fact, had left on leave from May 12, 1999.

The issue prompted a heated debate with the otherwise mild-mannered Mhatre losing his coolduring the Standing Committee meeting. Committee chairman Sada Sarvankar assured that the decision on appointing a sub-committee would be taken in the next meeting.

8220;Naik had not gone on leave. He was very much present attending his duties. He had even signed the muster which is proof of his presence. Khire has for some selfish reasons has indulged in politics. She also misinformed the committee by putting the matter of promotion on the agenda,8221; Pawar affirmed.

Pawar added that according to civic service circular, if a person does not avail of his promotion in time then he or she has to wait for two more years before he is in line for promotion. 8220;This is utter injustice to an employee and this tendency must be arrested. He is the seniormost in the department. We are sending a wrong message down the ranks,8221; he told the committee.

Mhatre said even the issue to be brought for discussion was incorrectly worded in the item placed before the committee to discourage debate. 8220;Why was this done? Why wasthe committee kept in the dark? There is enough evidence to prove there was deliberate mischief on her part. The muster will not lie. Only a sub-committee will be able to investigate and bring the truth to light,8221; he added.

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Later in the day, Mhatre and Pawar held a joint press-meet. Pawar told reporters, 8220;Khire8217;s act is highly condemnable. She has misled the Committee. It is not a new instance. She has behaved in a very irresponsible manner. Just what did she gain by doing this?8221; he asked. The duo said all documents, registers should be placed before the probe panel.

Pawar stated that if found guilty, Khire faces suspension. 8220;Rule 4 a of the Employees Conduct and Discipline Rules explicitly states hiding facts, spoiling confidential reports, stopping increments or effecting demotions, the guilty faces suspension or dismissal from service.8221;