Representative image of CCTV cameras.
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: Five government employees have been suspended for illegally celebrating a birthday inside a Public Works Department (PWD) office located within the high court premises and switching off CCTV cameras during the event.
Those suspended include PWD assistant engineers Lavanya, Meena, Naveen, and Ameet S Anadinni, and First Division Assistant GH Chikkegowda.
Eleven people were involved in the birthday celebrations of assistant engineer Meena held at the PWD special buildings sub-division within the court premises in February.
During the celebrations, CCTV cameras were switched off.
"Switching off the CCTV camera in such a sensitive area without bringing it to the notice of superiors is a security breach and dereliction of duty and unbecoming behavior of government employees and a failure to uphold the dignity of the office. Therefore, it is recommended that disciplinary action may be taken against the officers/staff for dereliction of duty," Hanumatharaju A, Under Secretary (Services C), PWD, stated in an order dated April 5.
The order followed an inquiry conducted by the PWD Chief Engineer, Communication and Building (Central), Shivamogga.
Besides the five suspended employees, those who took part in the illegal celebrations included PWD Second Division Assistants Ambika, Megha, and Rajneesh S, Group 'D' employee Venkatamma, and contractors Sangamesh and Kiran.
The inquiry found that preparations for the birthday celebration were carried out by Ambika, Megha, Rajneesh and Venkatamma on the instructions of FDA, Chikkegowda. The CCTV cameras were switched off by Venkatamma, also at Chikkegowda's behest.