The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has stayed the suspension of Shivananda Naikwadi, Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer and Deputy Conservator of Forests, Ghataprabha forest division, in Gokak in Belagavi district, on the charge of professional misconduct of allegedly insulting an elected representative.
The Tribunal’s Bengaluru Bench comprising S. Sujatha (judicial member) and Rakesh Kumar Gupta (administrative member) passed the interim order on a petition filed by Mr. Naikwadi. The officer had questioned the February 21 order passed by the Chief Secretary placing him under suspension. The officer has contended that the Chief Secretary has no power to place him under suspension.
The allegations against him were that he used inappropriate language against Raibag MLA Duryodhan Aihole during a conversation over telephone and that he had recorded the conversation with the MLA and shared its audio clip on social media.
