KORAPUT: The pen down strike by members of the district unit of Odisha Rajaswa Amala Sangha (ORAS), protesting the suspension of 11 clerks over permission for Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s helicopter landing, at Borigumma on February 13 entered the ninth day on Wednesday.
The association has threatened State-wide agitation if the administration fails to lift suspension order with immediate effect. President of the district unit of the association, Prasanna Kumar Nayak alleged that while junior clerk of the collectorate, Krushna Chandra Pradhan has been suspended without any fault of his, no specific reason has been mentioned in the official file over the suspension.
Sources said Collector V Jaykumar had suspended Krushna Chandra for his alleged involvement in giving permission for landing of helicopter of the Union Minister at Borigumma on February 13 during panchayat election campaigning. On February 23, the association staged dharna against the suspension following which, 10 more clerks were put under suspension on charges of dereliction of duty.
The Collector on Tuesday reinstated the 11 clerks and transferred them to different blocks of the district. The transfers triggered renewed protests and the employees stepped up their agitation demanding roll-back of suspension order by March 2.
Officials said the clerk concerned was suspended on charges of not following the official procedure while preparing the file for granting permission for landing of the chopper. Action was also taken against an Assistant Collector and in-charge Additional District Magistrate involved in preparing the permission order.
However, the association alleged that the clerk was carrying out the orders of his seniors. Reason for suspension has not been mentioned in the order, Nayak said.
The Collector said there were flaws while preparing the permission order. “Reason for suspension is never written in the order and it will be mentioned in the draft charge which will be given to the suspended official concerned,” he added.
Meanwhile, State BJP unit submitted a memorandum to the Governor urging him to intervene into the matter to resolve the issue alleging that administrative works have come to a standstill due to the logjam. On the other hand, the Collector on Wednesday went on a two-day leave, sources said.
Nabarangpur unit joins agitation
Nabarangpur: Members of the district unit of ORAS will launch pen down strike from Thursday supporting the agitation staged by their Koraput counterparts over suspension order of clerks.
As per the instructions of the Odisha Rajaswa Amala Sangha, the district unit took the decision and intimated the Collector on Wednesday, informed president of Nabarangpur unit, Kailash Chandra Dash.