The Telangana government has reportedly initiated disciplinary proceedings against a roads and buildings (R&B) department engineer who allegedly worked in the United States for nearly two decades without obtaining the mandatory government approval.
According to the Times of India, the engineer, identified as Ch Ravi, continues to remain on the state's rolls as a deputy executive engineer despite his prolonged absence from service.
Department officials told TOI that Ravi has been under suspension for several years and has not been drawing a salary, but remains listed as an employee of the department.
The state government has now appointed an inquiry authority and a presenting officer to examine charges of unauthorised absence and accepting overseas employment without prior government approval.
"While we had started a probe into the matter earlier, the disciplinary proceedings initiated now are to determine the charges and decide further action. Moreover, this is also a procedure to terminate the officer from service," a senior R&B department official told TOI.
According to official records cited by the newspaper, Ravi first travelled to the US in 2006 while serving as an assistant executive engineer. He returned to India in 2011 and briefly resumed duties before leaving again in 2012. Since then, he has allegedly remained absent from government service while working abroad without the required permission.
The report added that Ravi has not submitted a written statement in response to the charges.
Under government service rules, employees may avail long-term leave of up to five years and can take up employment or pursue higher studies overseas only after obtaining prior approval from the government. Officials told TOI that Ravi allegedly failed to follow the prescribed procedure on both occasions, amounting to misconduct under service rules.
The inquiry will be conducted by K Ravi Shankar, Superintending Engineer, R&B Circle, Rangareddy, who has been appointed as the inquiry authority and will submit a report to the government, the report said.
