Madurai, Feb 17 (PTI): The Madras High Court bench today condemned an IAS officer's action in not recusing himself from hearing review petitions of two government officials that came up before him against his order as disciplinary authority and rejecting their review applications Justice K K Sasidharan allowing petitions filed by Block Development Officers Palani and H Vijayakumar, said it is unfortunate that Ashok Vardhan Shetty who imposed the punishment also took up the review petition and rejected them in his capacity as Principal Secretary. He said Shetty should have had the basic knowledge that he should not take up the matter when the challenge is against his order. The officiaal should have taken appropriate instructions from the government to post the matter before some other authority. The petitioners were issued chargesheet on Dec 20,2006 for granting licence to a saw mill and then allowing it, earlier, to function without permit for three months. After the BDOs submitted their reply,an enquiry was held and a report submitted to Shetty,Director of urban development and panchayat raj, who stopped their increment for four years with cumulative effect. The BDOs challenged the order in a review petition before the Principal Secretary, which came up before Shetty, who came to occupy the post. He rejected their petitions. PTI SSN APR
