By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 21 Jul: The Uttarakhand Government has dismissed two ad-hoc junior engineers (JEs), Sudarshan Singh Rawat and Alok Rawat, from service in Pauri Garhwal Zila Panchayat with immediate effect, following the findings of a departmental inquiry that has exposed serious irregularities and misuse of authority. The orders of termination have been issued today under the signatures of Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Chandresh Kumar.
The investigation, conducted under the orders issued by Secretary Chandresh Kumar, revealed that both officials had misused their positions in clear violation of departmental norms and ethical standards. It was found that the wives of both engineers each owned a 25 percent stake in M/s Butola Enterprises, a firm which received payments exceeding Rs 1.47 crores from government contracts. These interests were not declared to the department, constituting a breach of rules.
The inquiry also revealed that Akhilesh Rawat, brother of Alok Rawat, had been engaged as a contractor for works under the Zila Panchayat, which is considered a conflict of interest and is in violation of service rules. The government has cited a 1993 order that prohibits officials and their relatives from having any involvement in departmental contracts or tenders.
It may be reminded here that Sudarshan Rawat had previously also been suspended in October 2024, as initial findings indicated he had unauthorisedly sanctioned building and hotel plans outside the remit of his role. The final director level probe substantiated that both engineers’ wives benefitted financially through their undisclosed stakes in M/s Butola Enterprises.
Based on the director’s report, it was determined by the authorities that the actions of both engineers compromised departmental interests and cast serious doubt on their professional integrity. Sudarshan Rawat’s termination has been backdated to his date of suspension on 21 October 2024. Alok Rawat, who was appointed under Rule-33(a) of the Zila Panchayat (Central Service Cadre) Rules, 1966, was also found guilty of procedural misconduct, including failing to disclose his wife’s financial interest and leveraging his official position for personal gain.
Given the gravity of the violations and the consequent breach of public trust, the services of both officers have been terminated with immediate effect.
