CAT stays suspension of IAS officer who checked PM's copter
Bengaluru, Apr 25: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) bench here Thursday stayed the Election Commission order suspending IAS officer Mohammed Mohsin for checking prime minister Narendra Modi's helicopter in Odisha.
The officer from Karnataka cadre, deployed in Odisha as a general observer, was suspended on April 17 for checking Modi's helicopter in Odisha's Sambalpur in "violation" of norms for dealing with SPG protectees and sent back to the state.
The CAT maintained that during an election process while reasonable assurances of protection and security must be made available to SPG protectees, it cannot be said "they are eligible for anything and everything."
The bench also ordered issue of notice to the EC and "four others" and posted the matter for further hearing on June 6.
Mohsin had tried to check some luggage in the convoy of the Prime Minister during his campaign visit and the EC had said he had acted in violation of its existing instructions.
In its order, CAT member (Judicial) Dr K B Suresh noted there was a circular regarding the SPG protectees that they are exempted from certain examinations on certain grounds.
"We will not go into the SPG protectees guidelines as per the bluebook right now, but the rule of law must prevail," he said.
The CAT also took note of the plea of the applicant's counsel who said there were news about heavy packages unloaded from prime minister's cavalcade being taken away in other vehicle.
Questions were raised but apparently no action followed, it said.
Noting that under the Constitutional process of federal structure, even though the EC has supervisory powers over the employees under its control at that moment of time, the CAT said once they are out of it, the commission's powers would cease.
The tribunal said: "Thereforethe suspension order issued by the election commission cannot, on the face of it, lie. It is hereby stayed."
However, the CAT said it would look into this matter afresh once it received the response from the EC.
The tribunal said the applicant will be eligible to rejoin his former position under the Karnataka government "without any further ado about it".
Following the suspension, an EC source had said: "It has been laid down that SPG protectees are exempted from checking.
He (the officer) should have known the instruction being an observer. The reason for suspension is dereliction of duty."
IAS officer Mohammed Mohsin
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Married woman stabbed to death by stalker for refusing his advances in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): A 34-year-old married woman was stabbed to death here allegedly by a man who had been stalking her after she repeatedly refused his advances, police said on Friday.
The victim, Firdos Banu, a resident of Gangondanahalli, worked as a house help, they said.
The accused, identified as Hafiz, a mechanic, has been arrested in connection with the incident, which took place on the afternoon of March 19.
According to police, Banu was returning home from work when the accused intercepted her behind a school in the Gangondanahalli area and stabbed her multiple times, leaving her seriously injured.
Locals informed her family, and she was taken to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries later in the evening, a senior police officer said.
A case of murder has been registered at Chandra Layout police station and the accused has been arrested, he added.
Police said Banu was married to Altaf Pasha, an autorickshaw driver, for around 15 years. She is survived by her husband and three minor sons.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Hafiz, who is unmarried, had been stalking Banu for some time and continued to harass her despite her repeated refusals, they added.
