The suspension of Shivananda Naikwadi, an Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer and Deputy Conservator of Forests in the Ghataprabha forest division, Gokak, Belagavi district, has been temporarily halted by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). This suspension was imposed on the grounds of professional misconduct, specifically for allegedly insulting an elected representative.
The Bengaluru Bench of the Tribunal, consisting of S. Sujatha (judicial member) and Rakesh Kumar Gupta (administrative member), issued a temporary order in response to a petition filed by Mr. Naikwadi. He challenged the February 21 decision of the Chief Secretary, which suspended him. The officer argued that the Chief Secretary lacks the authority to suspend him.
He was accused of employing inappropriate language towards Raibag MLA Duryodhan Aihole in a telephone conversation. Additionally, he allegedly recorded the conversation with the MLA and shared its audio clip on social media.
Contrarily, Mr. Naikwadi refuted the accusations, asserting that he had previously received several calls from individuals posing as the MLA concerning actions taken against the illegal construction of a building on forest land.
The official argued that he initially responded with rudeness upon receiving the call from the MLA, thinking it was from someone impersonating the MLA. However, he shifted to a more courteous tone upon realizing that it was indeed the MLA.
Maintaining that he utilizes an iPhone, which lacks a call recording feature, Mr. Naikwadi asserted in the plea that the MLA himself recorded the conversation. The officer further accused the MLA of endorsing the purported illegal construction and attempting to favor the contractor. The MLA had raised a complaint with the Chief Minister, alleging that the officer had insulted him and obstructed the construction of a building for which government funds were sanctioned.
