Victimisation,alleges Bhatia

Bhatia, in his affidavit, alleged before the high court, that he was victimised.Bhatia said government's action against him amounted to p...

Bhatia, in his affidavit, alleged before the high court, that he was victimised.

Bhatia said government8217;s action against him amounted to punitive removal in the guise of a transfer which was actuated by malafides at the instance of vested interests who were adversely affected by legal actions undertaken by him as an officer discharging public duties.

Bhatia said as the municipal commissioner he had carried out a major demolition drive against unauthorised structures allegedly belonging to highly influential persons, including an MP and son-in-law of a former chief minister.

He alleged that the manner in which he was shifted was highly unusual and extraordinary because the transfer order was served on him through a police courier on a holiday. It also did not state his next posting. Moreover, the order transgressed all established norms and guidelines laid down by the government.

Bhatia alleged that although he had not formally handed over charge of the post of municipal commissioner, his successor had resumed office apparently under preemptory instructions from the government to do so. Besides, he said, his new posting as the commissioner of Archives, Mumbai, was 8220;sinecure with no executive functions whatsoever.8221;

8220;This post is not even at the level of a commissioner but at a lower level. The designation and ranking had been upgraded only to effectuate his transfer,8221; he alleged.

Bhatia said that during his tenure, coercive recovery of property tax arrears was started for the first time in the history of Pune Municipal Corporation with notices to auction property as arrears of land revenue for recovery of tax. He said defaulters owing the civic body more than Rs one lakh accounted for Rs five crore of arrears.

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Thus, Bhatia claimed, the process had begun for greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of civic body from within. To this end it was declared that in order to introduce transparency the corporation files would be open for public scrutiny. This was done keeping in mind the principle of 8220;the right to know8221; which had been upheld by the Supreme Court and the high court in some cases.