Adarsh scam: No action yet against state information commissioner

MUMBAI - A day after Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan rejected the leave application of State Information Commissioner Ramanand Tiwari, the state government Thursday was still to initiate any action against the official who is allegedly linked to the infamous Adarsh Society scam.

Even as the governor declined Tiwari’s leave application, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan hinted in Aurangabad Wednesday that action would be taken against the official whose son, Omkar Tiwari is among the allottees of a flat in the society.

Officials sources said here Thursday evening that so far no steps have been initiated in the matter though the Raj Bhavan communication had already reached Tiwari.

A former Indian Administrative Society officer who handled the urban development department when Adarsh society had got the relevant clearances, Tiwari Wednesday had sought long leave of 83 days from Jan 7-March 31 this year.

Another senior officer Subhash Lalla quit earlier this week as a member of the State Human Rights Commission after his name figured in the scam as the Central Bureau of Investigation started probing the Adarsh issue.

According to officials, Tiwari’s refusal to quit on “moral grounds” from his constitutional post despite a hint by the state government ten days ago and countering with a long leave application could pave the way for exercising “other options” against him.

Official sources indicated that the state government would initiate appropriate proceedings to take action against Tiwari under the relevant sections of the RTI Act.

The RTI Act, Sec 17 (1) says that the governor has powers to remove the SIC from his post on grounds of “misbehaviour” or “incapacity” after referring the matter to the Supreme Court.

Incidentally, the state government has also announced a judicial inquiry into the Adarsh issue.