Bureaucrat caught up in Adarsh scam

Mumbai: Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan yesterday said his government had recommended the suspension of state information commissioner Ramanand Tiwari for his alleged involvement in the ontroversial Adarsh Housing Society scam.

The recommendation for his removal has been sent to Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan, he told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

Tiwari, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was in charge of the Urban Development department when the Adarsh building got crucial clearances. Tiwari, whose son owns a flat in the building, has also been accused of withholding information on the Housing Society where a number of politicians, bureaucrats and top defence personnel own flats. The 31-storey building on defence land in the prime area of Colaba was originally meant for war veterans and widows of Kargil war.

Chavan said: "For Tiwari to continue in office is not in the interest of the state. We have submitted enough grounds to take action against Tiwari and the Governor will send the recommendation to the Supreme Court which will hold an inquiry and decide whether to suspend him or terminate his services."

He said action against Tiwari was initiated under Section 17 of the Right to Information Act which states that the "governor may by order remove from office the State Information Commissioner if a State Information Commissioner has acquired such financial or other interests as is likely to affect prejudicially his function as the State Information Commissioner."

Resignation

Earlier, Subhash Lalla, another retired IAS officer, resigned as member of the State Human Rights Commission on January 3 after names of his relatives figured among the members of the Adarsh Society. Lalla was posted in the chief minister's office when the Society's files were being processed.

Chavan said IAS officers are protected by law but Tiwari and Lalla were appointed for political reasons. So, there is a specific procedure to take action against them.

Tiwari has refused to resign despite pressure from the government.