Karnataka IAS officer to challenge EC order recommending action against him
He was suspended for checking PM Modi’s copter
Bengaluru, Apr 26: A day after getting relief from CAT against the Election Commission's order suspending him, Karnataka cadre IAS officer Mohammed Mohsin has decided to take up another legal battle against the EC for recommending disciplinary action against him to the state government.
The Central Administrative Tribunal bench here Thursday had stayed the EC order suspending Mohsin for checking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter in Odisha, where he was deployed as general observer, in "violation" of norms for dealing with SPG protectees and sent back to the state.
Hours after the CAT stayed the suspension, the EC revoked its order, but recommended to the Karnataka government to initiate disciplinary action against Mohsin and debarred him from election duty until further orders.
The officer said in a press release that he would seek a legal remedy against the Commission's decision.
"In the night of 25 April, 2019, the commission has issued an order, inter alia, revoking the said order of suspension. It is also recommended, therein, to the government of Karnataka to initiate disciplinary action and I have been debarred from election duty until further orders.
I will have to seek appropriate legal remedy against the latter part of the said order of April 25, 2019," the press release read.
Mohsin added it would not be appropriate to mention the merits of the case since the matter was sub-judice.
The CAT in its order had 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 had 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 had noted there was a circular regarding SPG protectees that exempts them 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 had said.
The CAT also took note of the plea of the applicant's counsel, who said there were news about heavy packages unloaded from the Prime Minister's cavalcade being taken away in another vehicle.
Questions were raised, but apparently no action followed, it had said.
However, the CAT had said it would look into this matter afresh once it received the response from the EC.
The tribunal had said the applicant would be eligible to rejoin his former position under the Karnataka government "without any further ado about it".
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'Inviolability of UN premises must be respected': India condemns Israeli attack on UN peacekeepers
New Delhi, Oct 11: India on Friday said it was "concerned" at the "deteriorating" security situation in parts of West Asia, amid reports that United Nations peacekeepers have been caught in the intensified fighting in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs also said New Delhi continues to monitor the situation closely.
"We are concerned at the deteriorating security situation along the Blue Line. We continue to monitor the situation closely," the MEA said.
The 120-km Blue Line is a United Nations-recognised demarcation line to indicate that Israel had withdrawn its military from southern Lebanon. It separates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights, but it is not an official international border.
"Inviolability of UN premises must be respected by all, and appropriate measures taken to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and the sanctity of their mandate," the MEA said in its statement.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, said in a statement on October 10 that "recent escalation along the Blue Line is causing widespread destruction of towns and villages in south Lebanon".
"In the past days, we have seen incursions from Israel into Lebanon in Naqoura and other areas. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers have clashed with Hizbullah elements on the ground in Lebanon," it alleged in the statement.
Our statement on recent developments in southern Lebanon: https://t.co/9Nw17qCLxL pic.twitter.com/8nSluhR8DI
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 11, 2024
