SAT Issues Arrest Warrant Against WR Secretary, Chief Engineer

Bhubaneswar: The State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) has issued arrest warrant against principal secretary, Water Resources, Pradeep Kumar Jena and chief engineer, Minor Irrigation, Saroj Kumar Patnaik.

The Tribunal, which has issued two warrants against these two officials with a bailable bond of Rs 5000 each, has directed them to appear in person on February 7. Besides, it has also directed the Commissionerate Police to ensure implementation of its order.

A division bench of the Tribunal, comprising its working chairperson Dr MM Praharaj and Justice GR Purohit, issued the directive while hearing the petition filed by Jaminikanta Das, executive engineer, Minor Irrigation.

The petitioner had alleged that though he is the senior-most official in the Minor Irrigation department, the state government ignored his seniority and appointed Saroj Patnaik, who belongs to the Medium and Major Irrigation department.

Admitting the petition, the Tribunal had directed the WR principal secretary to take necessary steps to ensure promotion to the deserving officers with all financial benefits. Instead of adhering to the directive of the Tribunal, the WR department moved the Orissa High Court, challenging the order. The High Court, while upholding the order of the Tribunal, asked the department to carry out the earlier order with immediate effect.

Later, the Tribunal in its order on January 9 had asked Jena and Patnaik to appear in person.

As they did not turn up, the Tribunal took cognizance to the offence and issued bailable arrest warrants against them.