Retired KAS officer alleges harassment by IAS officers

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

It seems there is no end to the woes of Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officer Mathai K, who retired 22 months ago. Mathai got transferred 30 times during his career and it is alleged that even after retirement a few IAS officers are after him.

“The state government has sanctioned a basic pension to me. I am yet to get more than Rs 10 lakh towards my retirement benefits from the state government. A few IAS officers are creating hurdles for me by not closing proceedings against me based on a bogus complaint that was lodged against me without any documentary evidence in 2012,” Mathai said.

On Monday, Mathai lodged a complaint with Karnataka Lokayukta against maladministration in the revenue department and two officers – Jayasri, Deputy Secretary, Revenue Department and Tushar Girinth, Secretary, Revenue Department. The nature of the complaint is dereliction of duty

“I have credible information that the above file (proceedings against him based on a baseless complaint) is intentionally kept pending by Jayasri, Deputy Secretary, Revenue Department under pressure from those IAS officers whose names figured in my reports coupled with not greasing the palms properly. I had personally met Tushar Girinath, Principal Secretary, Revenue Department and told him that once the Competent Authority (Revenue Minister) orders to close the file, it is the duty of the Revenue Department to issue a government order without any delay,” Mathai said in the complaint to Lokayukta.

Mathai, as a Commissioner of Mandya Urban Development Authority, had submitted a report of 672 pages out of which 664 pages of evidence and it was about Rs 300 crore illegalities. Based on his report, the state government handed over the case to the CBI which filed a charge-sheet against 40 people, including 14 previous commissioners and others. “I submitted eight reports on BBMP incurring Rs 2,000 crore loss by way of non-collection of advertisement tax by officials wherein senior officers were involved. While working as administrator of Sakala Mission, I submitted 14 reports with evidence about weakening of Sakala by IAS officers,” he said. On the delay in closing the proceedings against him, the retired KAS officer said that keeping the file pending for past 10 years for one or other reasons and unnecessarily shuttling the file among various government departments is nothing but a clear case of maladministration.

“I therefore, request you to register a complaint against Jayasri, Deputy Secretary, Tushar Girinath, Principal Secretary of Revenue Department for maladministration and further request you to kindly summon them and enquire as to why the file is being tossed between the departments even after closure order is issued by competent authority. Suitable compensation of Rs 50 lakh also may be ordered to be paid to me for undergoing suffering for the past 10 years,” he said in the complaint to the Lokayukta. Commenting on Mathai filing a complaint with Karnataka Lokayukta, Sai Datta, a social activist, has said people would lose faith in the state government if it continues to create problems for honest officers even after they retire.