Senior IPS officer and former intelligence chief of Andhra Pradesh A B Venkateshwara Rao was finally reinstated in service on Friday, hours before his retirement from service on superannuation.
Chief Secretary S Jawahar Reddy issued orders reinstating him in service and posted him as director general of police in the department of printing and stationery.
He said ABV was suspended pending the initiation of disciplinary proceedings on February 8, 2020. ABV challenged his suspension in the high court, which quashed the suspension order on May 5, 2020.
The Supreme Court, which initially granted interim stay on the high court order, finally dismissed the SLP filed by the state government on April 22, 2022, in view of the completion of two years of suspension. It directed reinstatement of ABV.
“He was reinstated into service and posted as the Commissioner, Printing, Stationary, and Stores Purchase, June 14, 2022 and he assumed charge on June 17. However, he was later suspended again on June 28, which he had challenged in the central administrative tribunal. Finally on May 8 this year, the CAT ordered his reinstatement.
“Thus, he was placed under suspension for nearly five years and is retiring from service on attaining the age of superannuation on May 31, 2024,” the high court observed.
Keeping the length of service rendered by the IPS officer and since he is retiring on attaining superannuation by May 31, the high court observed that any stay on the CAT order may result in great hardship to him, the order said.
“However, the reinstatement, if any, will not preclude the petitioner from proceeding with criminal action. Hence, we are of the view that appropriate orders will be passed in interlocutory application after filing of the counter affidavit by ABV,” the high court said.
So, the chief secretary said the government, on overall consideration of entire issue considers that it is equitable and fair that the officer be reinstated into service immediately and be given appropriate postings so as to enable him to retire on the day of superannuation.
However, the chief secretary said the reinstatement of ABV is subjecting to clearance of the criminal cases pending against him.