CAT stays IRS officer Jasti Krishna Kishore's suspension, issues notice to AP govt

Vijayawada : The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has stayed the suspension of former CEO of AP Economic Development Board and IRS Officer Jasti Krishna Kishore on Monday. The tribunal also served notices to the Andhra Pradesh government.

Recently, the state government had suspended IRS officer Jasti Krishna Kishore on the charges of corruption. The government made the decision following a report received from the Industries, Infrastructure, Investment and Commerce Department. In an official order issued on December 12, the government said they suspended the IRS officer via the powers conferred by the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965. The order further stated that the officer should remain suspended in public interest until the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings.

However, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is serious over the state government’s unilateral action suspending Jasti Krishna Kishore, an All India Service Officer. DoPT reportedly sought to know whether the state government has such powers to take a disciplinary action against an All India Service Officer or not.

DSP (CID) M Raja Rao registered the case under Sections 188, 403, 409, 120 (B) IPC, and various articles of the AP Economic Development Board Act 2018. CID registered the case at the headquarters in the city, following a complaint from the Special Grade Deputy Collector of APEDB Potluri Tulasi Rani.

However, a few senior bureaucrats felt that the government should have consulted legal experts before filing a case against the IRS officer, as it attracts the attention of DoPT. “This issue will certainly widen the gap between the state and the Union Government,” they observed.

Notably, AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is hosting a dinner for all bureaucrats, MLAs and Ministers, on Tuesday evening at Vijayawada. The issue of the IRS officer’s suspension and the subsequent stay awarded by CAT will come for an informal discussion during the event.