Exam frauds: govt refuses to suspend 61 law officers

The director of the prosecution and department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR) have come up with lame excuses not to suspend 61 assistant public prosecutors (APP) and assistant government pleaders (AGPs), who were charge-sheeted for indulging in malpractices during the recruitment process.

The director of the prosecution stated that suspending 61 APPs and AGPs would adversely affect the prosecution of cases in the state, while DPAR has concluded that there is no provision under rules to suspend a government servant for misconduct before joining the service. The Lokayukta police had charge-sheeted former director of prosecution Chandrashekhar Hiremath, administrative officer Narayanaswamy and 61 APPs and AGPs for examination malpractices and other irregularities in the recruitment of 197 posts of APPs and AGPs.

After filing the charge sheet, Lokayukta ADGP had written to the DPAR in March 2018 to suspend all the 61 APPs and AGPs who are accused in the case. The letter requested the government to place the 61 accused under suspension since there was apprehension that they might influence the witnesses in the case.

Director prosecution (additional charge) T S Gopinath said that of the 532 posts of APPs, only 231 are filled. “If we suspend 61 prosecutors and pleaders, the number of vacant posts will reach 362 and adversely affect the prosecution of cases in various courts,’’ the note said.

Lokayukta’s law point

“Rule 20 says the competent authority may debar either permanently or for a specified period if a candidate is found guilty of resorting to any irregular or improper means in connection with his recruitment, in addition to rendering himself liable to criminal prosecution and disciplinary action,” a Lokayukta official said.