At last, senior Indian Police Service officer and former intelligence chief of Andhra Pradesh A B Venkateshwara Rao on Friday joined the duty, nearly three years after he was taken off from the duties.
He assumed charge as the commissioner of printing, stationery and stores purchase department. He told reporters that he was very happy to be back in service after a gap of three years.
“I don’t think this is an insignificant or loop line post. The government will make appointments as per its discretion and according to the requirements of the department,” Venkateshwara Rao said.
He, however, said he did not have complete understanding about the printing and stationery department.
During the combined Andhra Pradesh regime, there was a lot of importance to the government printing press at Muthyalampadu, where government orders, text books and gazette notifications used to be printed there.
“After the bifurcation of the state and due to advent of modern technology, this printing press has lost its glory. But I will study the situation here and see how best I can improve the systems here, after discussing with the employees here,” he said.
Venkateshwara Rao went around the printing press area and interacted with the staff members there.
On Wednesday, Venkateshwar Rao was given the posting. as Commissioner, Printing. Stationery & Stores Purchase Department, nearly a month after he was reinstated in the service following a Supreme Court order. Though he reported to duty on May 19, he was not given any posting till Wednesday.
Venkateshwara Rao wrote to the chief secretary twice and even tried to meet him personally, but he did not get the audience.
He said he had written several letters and reminders, quoting the high court and Supreme Court directions, but they had not been implemented. He was not even allowed to draw salary and other allowances.
The Supreme Court on April 22 ordered that the state government revoke Venkateshwara Rao’s suspension and directed that the state government take him back into service immediately.