Tribunal stays suspension of PDO for participation in RSS event
Bengaluru:
The Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSTA), Kalaburagi Bench, has stayed the suspension of Praveen Kumar K P, Panchayat Development Officer (PDO), following his participation in the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at Lingasugur, Raichur on October 12.
The suspension, coming at a time when Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge’s demand to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on not permitting RSS Pathasanchalana in the state, had been issued by the Karnataka Panchayat Commissionerate on October 17.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, an advocate by profession, had assured the PDO that he would take up the matter before the appropriate legal forums and challenge the illegal suspension.
Pronouncing an interim order, the bench led by Judicial Member S Y Watawati, stayed the suspension, directed the state to file its objections and posted the matter for further hearing on November 14.
On X, Surya shared an update on the case. “My law office had challenged the arbitrary suspension of PDO Praveen Kumar for participating in the RSS Pathasanchalana in Lingasugur, Raichur, before the Hon’ble Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal.”
It may be recalled that on October 12, Praveen Kumar, deputed as a Personal Assistant to an MLA, participated in the Pathasanchalana procession organized as part of the RSS centenary celebrations.
A few days later, the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Commissionerate issued a suspension order citing alleged violation of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules), 2021, which mandate that a government servant shall maintain moral integrity and not engage in acts unbecoming of public service.
Before the Tribunal, Senior Advocate Prabhuling Navadgi argued that the suspension was illegal and arbitrary, contending that participation in a private, non-political event on a non-working day could not constitute a violation of service rules. He further submitted that the order was passed in haste and without independent application of mind by the Commissionerate.