Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (DRD)
Bengaluru, Mar 4: The Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal here has restored officer Sandhya Sachin to her post as Range Forest Officer (RFO) of the Udupi Forest Mobile squad with immediate effect.
The tribunal has noted that the reference letter attached with the file concerning the transfer order indeed belonged to MLA Harish Poonja whereas a lawful government recommendation for the same. said in its verdict that it was clear from the documents submitted by the petitioner.
It may be recalled that senior forest official Sandhya Sachin had been transferred to Bidar by the state government at the behest of MLA Harish Poonja after her confrontation with a group of timber transporters alleged to be close to the legislator. There were widespread protests against her transfer.
Sandhya had questioned the decision in the tribunal on the grounds that the transfer was unlawful and was ordered to satisfy the whims of MLA Harish Poonja.
The government in its defence had stated that it was a routine transfer executed at the end of her term in the Udupi squad.
The tribunal led by Justice Budihal R B has quashed the defending government's transfer order observing that it was a "malafide and vitiated by malafide political interference in the matter of transfer of government servants which is untenable under the transfer guidelines."
The judge has also ordered that official Sandhya sachin be reinstated to her earlier post as the RFO of Udupi Forest Mobile squad, with immediate effect. The tribunal has also directed the government to strictly adhere to the transfer guidelines while passing the order.