Hyderabad:The Delhi High Court has directed the Union department of personnel and training (DoPT) to take a final decision within three months on a complaint levelling serious corruption allegations against retired senior IAS officer Rajat Kumar of the Telangana cadre.
The orders were issued while disposing of a writ petition filed by one Gavinolla Srinivas, who had earlier lodged a grievance with the DoPT on January 28, 2022. The complaint accused the senior bureaucrat of engaging in corrupt practices, including allegedly accepting benefits from a private infrastructure company involved in major irrigation projects in Telangana.
According to the petitioner, the company had reportedly borne expenses related to Rajat Kumar’s daughter’s marriage function, with company executives allegedly coordinating payments through intermediary entities. The complaint cited material available in the public domain, including investigative reports.
Petitioner Srinivas submitted that the five-day ceremony was held at high-end venues and the expenses were borne by private infrastructure company, which had got contract works for mega irrigation projects.
The DoPT, instead of taking a direct decision, had forwarded the complaint to the Telangana Chief Secretary on March 2, 2022. The petitioner argued that this action was insufficient and contrary to legal obligations, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling in ‘Vineet Narain vs Union of India’, which emphasised timely and independent decision-making in corruption matters involving public officials.
The petitioner contended that despite assurances of a preliminary inquiry by the state government, no final outcome had been communicated even after a significant lapse of time.
Observing the delay, the Delhi High Court held that merely forwarding the complaint to the state government did not absolve the DoPT of its responsibility. The court said that the department retained the authority to act even if a report from the state was pending.
“The respondent–DoPT has to take a final view on the complaint with due expedition,” the Delhi High Court noted, adding that prolonged inaction could not be justified in matters involving serious allegations of corruption. The court disposed of the petition with instructions that the DoPT or the ministry concerned must decide on the complaint in accordance with applicable rules and regulations within three months.
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