Appeal of official embroiled in Pattoor row rejected

Thiruvananthapuram: The local self-government department (LSGD) has rejected the appeal petition filed by Ansar J, an assistant executive engineer, against the decision of the departmental promotion committee (DPC).
The committee had denied him promotion owing to the pendency of disciplinary action for major penalty in two cases, including irregularities in giving revised building permit in the construction of a high rise flat at Pattoor in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. In 2014, the government had ordered disciplinary action against four corporation officials, including Ansar, who were held responsible for the blatant violations in the construction of an apartment-cum-mall project at Pattoor, as per the inspection report of chief town planner (vigilance).
The inspection report had listed 21 violations in the issuance of revised permit to the builder.
The report had directed the state government to take action against the assistant engineer, assistant executive engineer, executive engineer and superintendent engineer who were involved in the granting of permit.
The DPC held in December 2018 had superseded Ansar for inclusion in the select list of promotion to the post of executive engineer for 2019 and had concluded that Ansar could not be considered for promotion in 2019.
Ansar, however, filed a review petition contending that his juniors were included in the select list and that non-finalisation of disciplinary action for major penalty against him was not his mistake.
However, the local self-government department has pointed out that two more disciplinary action cases for major penalty were initiated against him since the DPC meeting held in December 2018.
One of the cases was related to issuance of original permit in violation of building rules in the construction of a high rise flat at Pattoor and another case was regarding irregularities in the construction of a fish market at Palayam.
The LSGD has now rejected the review petition filed by Ansar citing that he cannot be considered for promotion due to pendency of disciplinary action for major penalty in four cases against him.