Sivasankar’s suspension extended by four months

T’puram: The government extended the suspension of IAS officer M Sivasankar by four more months on the basis of the recommendation by a committee constituted to review the suspension of the officer. The panel consists of chief secretary Vishwas Mehta, additional chief secretary (labour and skills) Satyajeet Rajan and additional chief secretary (home and vigilance) TK Jose.
Sivasankar was suspended from the service on the basis of the report of a two-member committee consisting of the chief secretary and additional chief secretary (finance) on July 16, for his alleged links with the key accused in the gold smuggling case. The government initiated disciplinary proceedings against Sivasankar and has served the articles of charges to the officer.
The charges against are that he misused his official position by providing reference to appoint a person, who was also working as the secretary to the consular general of UAE, in the Space Park (under Kerala State IT Infrastructure) as operations manager.
It also said that he frequently associated with a foreign consulate official without the knowledge of the government thereby violating rule 3 (2) and 3 (2B) sub-rule three, five, seven, eight and 10 of the All-India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and the Centre’s miscellaneous executive instructions regarding contact of member of all-India services with foreign national and missions. It further said that the government found that his association with a person, who was later arrested for serious criminal activities, sent a wrong message to the public. tnn