Telangana HC orders govt not to act against Smita Sabharwal on Kaleshwaram report
Smita Sabharwal served as Additional Secretary and later Secretary to the then Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) during the BRS regime
By - Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the State government not to initiate any adverse action against Smita Sabharwal, IAS, regarding the findings of the PC Ghose Commission report on the Kaleshwaram Irrigation project.
Smita Sabharwal served as Additional Secretary and later Secretary to the then Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) during the BRS regime.
On Thursday, the Chief Justice Bench extended protection to the petitioner as was granted to KCR, T Harish Rao and the former Chief Secretary in the BRS government, Shailendra Kumar Joshi IAS (Retd).
What is the case about?
A petition, filed on Tuesday, seeks suspension of the commission’s report dated July 31, which recommended action against her in connection with the construction of the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages.
The PC Ghose Commission, in its report, said that Smita Sabharwal had accorded administrative sanction and approvals for the construction of the barrages and such files pertaining to this aspect were not placed before the commission and said that serious action should be initiated against her.
J Ramchander Rao, Senior Counsel and former Addl. Advocate General during the BRS regime, representing Smita Sabharwal, informed the court that the Ghose Commission, in its report, has made scathing and serious observations against the petitioner, which expose the petitioner to civil and disciplinary proceedings from the department where she is working and requested the court to suspend the Ghose Commission report.
Further, the Senior Counsel read out the part of the report, which made serious observations against the petitioner viz., “Smita Sabharwal IAS, who worked as Addl. Secretary to the CM and Secretary found to be negligent and irresponsible in discharging her duties and is liable for adverse action.”
The Division Bench was adjudicating the writ petition filed by Smita Sabharwal, IAS, seeking suspension of the Ghose Commission Report, dated July 31.
The next date of hearing was set for October 7.
