Government employee in Gujarat goes to high court after being called 'jihadi'

AHMEDABAD: After being suspended for "adopting a communal approach in pension cases", "imparting jihadi education" and "indulging in other anti-national activities", a state finance department employee has approached the Gujarat high court alleging that these charges were levelled against him to prevent him from taking competitive exams.
Gulabsha Jadeja from Dhandhuka, who was suspended from his post of accountant in the district treasury office on April 14 after a post on social media, filed a petition in the HC saying he was called a 'jihadi' and 'anti-national' without any basis. An FIR was filed against him and his father-in-law on April 20 for allegedly encroaching on someone's land. tnn
After being suspended for 'adopting a communal approach in pension cases', 'imparting jihadi education' and 'indulging in anti-national activities', a finance department employee has approached the Gujarat high court alleging that these frivolous charges were levelled against him to prevent him from taking competitive exams.
Gulabsha Jadeja from Dhandhuka, who was suspended from his post of accountant in the district treasury office on April 14 after a post on social media, filed a petition in the HC saying he was called a 'jihadi' and 'anti-national' without any basis. An FIR was filed against him and his father-in-law on the evening of April 20 for allegedly encroaching on someone's land.
Jadeja was arrested immediately and released on bail the next evening. He was scheduled to face an interview for Accounts Officer Class-I conducted by the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) on April 21, which he missed.
After he was suspended from service, he was ordered to report at Dang and not to leave the headquarters. He was, however, granted an NOC by this department to take the GPSC interview. But the NOC was withdrawn late in the evening a day ahead of his interview. He approached the HC challenging withdrawal of the NOC and demanded that the GPSC interview him and keep a seat vacant. Before the HC, Jadeja's counsel submitted, "They are calling me jihadi. I take it as a challenge. I ask them to produce material to substantiate their claim."
After perusal of orders for suspension and withdrawal of the NOC, Justice Mauna Bhatt questioned the basis of the allegations against Jadeja and termed the order "complete defamation". The judge said, "I am convinced that these words are used without any basis. If they wanted to suspend you, they could have simply said that public interest is involved."
The HC issued notice to the state government and asked the government lawyer to convey to the treasury officer to be watchful in using such words." The court has posted a further hearing for June 6 on Jadeja's demand for an interview with GPSC.
Meanwhile, Jadeja filed another petition on Wednesday complaining that the police have sent his mobile phones and a laptop to the FSL for analysis. His advocate alleged that it was done only to prevent him from getting access to his study material because he is to take a Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam on May 28. He submitted that earlier through an FIR, he was prevented from taking a GPSC interview, now he will face difficulties in another exam.
Justice M R Mengdey questioned the police about "the hurry" in sending the devices for analysis while the issue was pending in the lower court. The court is to hear this further on May 22.