STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The State Government allowed voluntary retirement to former NRC (National Register of Citizens) State Coordinator, an Assam-Meghalaya IAS cadre, Prateek Hajela, with effect from today with some conditions. The state Personnel Department issued an official notification to this effect.
After the completion of his inter-cadre deputation, Hajela applied for VRS a few months ago. However, there were confusions regarding Hajela getting VRS because of the allegations levelled against him, including the NRC update. Even Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma instructed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department to file cases against Hajela on the allegations of financial irregularities concerning the NRC update. The Chief Minister also said that Hajela would have to appear as and when the police called him.
Despite all odds, the State Government put to rest all speculations, and finally, it approved his VRS after a careful examination and in consultation with the Government of India.
According to the official notification, “Prateck Hajela was on Inter Cadre Deputation in the Madhya Pradesh Government for three years with effect from November 13, 2019, and his request for further extension of Inter Cadre Deputation beyond November 12, 2022, on personal grounds, was not accepted by the Government of Assam as well as the DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training), Govt. of India. Accordingly, as per the instructions of DoPT, the Govt. of Madhya Pradesh released him on March 31, 2023, to the parent cadre.
“Prateek Hajela submitted his joining letter dated April 1, 2023 and on the same date, also applied for Voluntary Retirement from service on personal grounds with effect from April 15, 2023 by waiver of the requirements of three months prior notice condition for Voluntary Retirement as per Rule 16(2) of the AIS (DCRB) Rules 1958, and prior to proceeding on Inter-Cadre Deputation, Prateek Hajela was working as State Coordinator NRC from September 6, 2013 to November 11, 2019. While processing the matter of his voluntary retirement, a Vigilance Clearance Report, Government Liability Report, etc. were called for, and reports revealed that a regular inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam, and two other criminal cases are pending against him in connection with his tenure as State Coordinator, NRC, Assam, and the draft Audit Paragraphs on “Implementation of NRC Updation Project in Assam” submitted by the Office of the Accountant General, Assam also resulted in audit paras on the matter, which is under examination, and it was also reported that a notice for recovery of Rs. 23.05.500 was served on Prateek Hajela, and the matter is yet to be resolved.
“The matter of waiver of the requirements of three months prior notice as a condition for Voluntary Retirement under Rule 16(2) of the AIS (DCRB) Rules 1958 and about the subsequent reports regarding pending regular inquiries, criminal cases, recovery of amounts, etc., was referred to DoPT seeking guidance for deciding the matter of his Voluntary Retirement.
“On June 27, 2023, the DoPT suggested that Prateek Hajela is over 53 years of age; therefore, under Rule 16 (2) of the All India Services (DCRB) Rules, 1958, the State Government is the competent authority to accept his request for Voluntary Retirement and to take a decision on waiver of the notice period.”
The Government of Assam has examined the matter in light of the extant rules, and therefore, the State Government has allowed Prateek Hajela to proceed on Voluntary Retirement with effect from August 1, 2023. The notification set some conditions for the VRS: (i) Acceptance of VRS is without prejudice to the ongoing Regular inquiry and investigation against Prateek Hajela in the cases, as well as any DP that may be initiated depending on the findings and outcome of the regular inquiry and the investigations and audit reports. (ii) As the process for recovering liabilities is underway, his pension benefits are kept in abeyance until further orders.
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