PMC panel seeks to overturn Jha orders

The committee members have also sought the transfer of senior civic officers including N D Sawant and M P Vaidya and have demanded that the civic chief offer the post of AMC special to Arun Pardeshi, a State revenue department officer who was recently deputed to the PMC.

When contacted, Additional Municipal Commissioner Deepak Kapoor said that the committee resolution would be forwarded to the State Government. 8220;We8217;ll seek guidelines from the State Urban Development Ministry as the issue involves the posting of an officer Pardeshi deputed by the government,8221; he added.

The committee resolution stunned the civic officers who felt that Patil, leader of the PMC Officers8217; Association, was being victimised. Patil had recently demanded that the Mayor formulate a code of conduct for the political workers. Under his leadership the association had resolved to boycott the civic general body and standing committee meetings. He was not present for the committee meeting today.

When contacted, Patil said, 8220;The committee cannot transfer me. It is the prerogative of the Municipal Commissioner.8221; The association has sought legal advise over the issue, it was learnt.

It may be noted here that several senior civic officers, excluding Patil, were transferred by Jha before he left PMC. M P Vaidya who was heading the civic property tax collection wing was transferred as the AMC land and estates. Then municipal secretary Hanmant Chavan had replaced Vaidya.

N D Sawant who was heading the land and estates department was transferred to the post of AMC special, which had fallen vacant following the retirement of government deputed officer Manohar Bhate.

Interestingly, it was after Sawant had taken the charge as AMC special, the government deputed Pardeshi. Hence, he was appointed as the chief of the civic slum department. The post had fallen vacant following the voluntary retirement of K D Marathe.

The standing committee today took a strong objection to the move pointing out that the post of civic slum department was not equivalent to that of AMC special. Also, hitherto none of the PMC officer was appointed to the post of AMC special, they said arguing that the post be offered to Pardeshi and Sawant be again transferred as the chief of civic land and estate wing.

The committee members sought to know why Jha had not transferred Patil who was heading the administration wing for the past decade. They demanded that Patil be transferred to the civic slum department as its chief and suggested that M P Vaidya be appointed the chief of the civic administration wing.

Meanwhile, civic water department chief Ramesh Ghodke would be going on a long leave from tomorrow, it was learnt. He is due for retirement in September this year.