Delhi High Court Directs DoPT to Decide Corruption Complaint Against Retired IAS Rajat Kumar Within 3 Months
In a significant judicial intervention emphasizing accountability in public service, the Delhi High Court has directed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to take a final decision within three months on a corruption complaint filed against retired IAS officer Rajat Kumar, who belonged to the Telangana cadre.
The direction came while the court was disposing of a writ petition filed by Gavinolla Srinivas, who had originally lodged the complaint with the DoPT on January 28, 2022. The petitioner alleged serious instances of corruption involving the senior bureaucrat and sought timely action from the concerned authorities.
According to the complaint, Rajat Kumar is accused of receiving undue benefits from a private infrastructure company linked to major irrigation projects in Telangana. One of the key allegations relates to the lavish wedding of Kumar’s daughter, which reportedly took place over five days at high-end venues, including the iconic Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad.
The petitioner claimed that the expenses for the wedding were allegedly borne by the infrastructure company. It was further alleged that payments were routed through intermediary entities to conceal the financial trail. To support these claims, Srinivas cited investigative reports and other publicly available materials.
However, instead of initiating a direct inquiry, the DoPT had forwarded the complaint to the Chief Secretary of Telangana on March 2, 2022. The petitioner challenged this action in court, arguing that merely transferring the complaint to the state government did not fulfill the department’s legal responsibility.
During the hearing, the petitioner relied on the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in the Vineet Narain vs Union of India case, which laid down clear guidelines for handling corruption allegations against public officials. The judgment emphasizes the need for independent, prompt, and effective action in such matters.
The Delhi High Court found merit in the petitioner’s arguments. It observed that forwarding the complaint to the state authorities does not absolve the DoPT of its duty to act. The court noted that the department retains the authority and responsibility to take a final decision, even if it is awaiting a report from the state government.
In its observation, the court stressed that delays in addressing serious corruption allegations cannot be justified. It stated that the DoPT must act with due diligence and expediency to ensure that the matter is resolved in a timely manner.
“The respondent—DoPT has to take a final view on the complaint with due expedition,” the court remarked, underscoring the importance of prompt decision-making in such cases.
Accordingly, the High Court disposed of the petition with a clear directive that the DoPT or the concerned ministry must examine the complaint and arrive at a final decision within a period of three months, in accordance with the applicable rules and legal framework.
This case once again brings into focus the issue of accountability and transparency in dealing with corruption allegations involving senior public officials. It also highlights the judiciary’s role in ensuring that procedural delays do not undermine the pursuit of justice.
The outcome of the DoPT’s decision in the coming months will be closely watched, as it may set an important precedent for handling similar cases in the future.
