Officer Suspended For Dozing Off At Gujarat CM’s Event

Bhuj: The chief officer of Bhuj municipality in Gujarat’s Kutch district has been suspended for dozing off during a function where chief minister Bhupendra Patel was present, Press Trust of India reported.

The state’s Urban Development and Urban Housing Department put Jigar Patel on suspension with immediate effect after cameras caught him sleeping at the function in Bhuj, an official said on Sunday.

“The order to suspend him for gross negligence and lack of devotion to duty was issued under Rule 5(1)(a) of Gujarat Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1971. Disciplinary action was taken due to his misconduct and lapse,” PTI quoted an official as saying.

The CM distributed documents of ownership (property cards) of residential housing for the rehabilitation of around 14,000 earthquake-affected people in Kutch.

“After the 2001 earthquake, rehabilitation of the affected people was done on a very large scale. Hon’ble Shri Narendrabhai Modi also had a unique love for Kutch. Under his leadership and guidance, Kutch has come out of many difficulties and has become a pioneer in the development path,” CM Patel tweeted.