‘Insensitive’ bureaucrat shunted out

Facing charges of displaying high-handedness towards his subordinates, Bhagwan Sahay, the additional chief secretary (agriculture), was shunted out of his charge for allegedly not granting a half-day leave to a subordinate whose son committed suicide last week.

Mr Sahay has been accused of not granting a half-day leave to joint secretary (agriculture) Rajendra Ghadge, whose 23-year-old son, who was suffering from depression, had asked Mr Ghadge to come home immediately, failing to which he had threatened to commit suicide.

Mr Sahay was shunted out of his charge by the chief secretary on Friday. The charge of his department has been handed over to additional chief secretary (finance) D.K. Jain.

Sources in the department stated that Mr Ghadge had twice approached Mr Sahay to grant a half-day leave to return home early. However, Mr Sahay denied him the leave, asking him to work till end of office hours.

The incident has infuriated the employees in Mantralaya, who have demanded that Mr Sahay be transferred and an FIR be lodged against him. The class-IV agriculture department employees association has threatened to go on a strike outside the office of the commissioner of agriculture, Pune, from September 7.

Bhausaheb Pathan, president of class-IV employees association of agriculture department, demanded that Mr Sahay be transferred immediately. “The employees in the department are finding it unbearable to work under him,” he said.

According to sources, the General Administration Department (GAD) has sought explanation from Mr Sahay in the matter. A senior official said that after hearing both the sides the future course of action shall be taken in the matter.

The official added there is no provision in the service rules whereby a bureaucrat in question can be sent on forced leave. He, however, added that it is up to Mr Sahay to decide on whether he wants to go on leave. When asked for his comments, Mr Sahay declined to make any.

Meanwhile, Mr Pathan, demanded that the probe be completed in time and Mr Sahay be transferred immediately.

Senior Shiv Sena leader and MLC Neelam Gorhe expressed concern that such an incident had happened in Mantralaya, the government headquarters, and called for a humane response by the administration in such circumstances. She also demanded in-depth inquiry into the “high-handed” behaviour of senior bureaucrats like Mr Sahay.