AHMEDABAD: After the Gujarat high court raised questions about giving prime posting to an administrative officer facing contempt of court charges, the state government on Monday told the court that the officer, M J Pandya, would be shifted from the post of secretary of Subordinate Services Selection Board (SSSB) to a “non-sensitive” position.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Aravind Kumar was displeased with Pandya’s posting as SSSB secretary.
The CJ questioned, “You have given him a prime posting despite understanding the gravity of the situation. What do you propose to do?” To this, the government lawyer said that Pandya would be transferred on Monday. The court was also informed that a departmental charge sheet has been served on the officer and a recommendation for major penalty made against him.
These departmental measures have been initiated against Pandya because he, along with a judicial officer and an honorary member of the Gujarat State Waqf Tribunal, is facing contempt proceedings for overlooking a high court’s order in a case involving a property in Khambhat town.
Meanwhile, the tribunal chairman, a district judge-cadre judicial officer, A I Shaikh, has already applied for voluntary retirement from the judicial services. The court was informed that HC’s registrar general has forwarded Shaikh’s resignation to the legal department for further process.
The third member, local historian Rizwan Qadri who was serving as an honorary member, also tendered his resignation from the tribunal, the court was informed.
