JOIN USShukla said that he had already sent two applications to the State authorities, seeking voluntary retirement, but the government was “sleeping” on the matter as it wanted to “torture” him further.
Shukla had hit the headlines last year when he was suspended from service for writing a book called ‘Jaati Raj’ (The rule of caste) in which he had “exposed” caste system and caste-based politics.
His suspension was stayed by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, but the State Government filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, which upheld the orders of the high court. The book states that none of the Dalit icons, who have been placed on a high pedestal by the Mayawati government, are actually Dalits. “I have supported my contention with historical facts, and this is what irked the chief minister,” he explained.
Shukla, who still has five years of service left, said the State Government had blatantly violated the orders of the high court as well as the Supreme Court, and that he had not been paid salary since February 2008.
He said he decided to announce his decision to take voluntary retirement before the media, because officials were refusing to take a decision on his application, thereby subjecting him to mental harassment.
He has also written to the state governor explaining his case. Shukla, incidentally, is the second senior officer to take voluntary retirement during the tenure of the Mayawati government. Earlier, chief secretary, P K Misra, had opted for VRS after he was reportedly pressurised to take some illegal decisions.