Umashankar still cooling his heels

By Radha Venkatesan

CHENNAI, JULY 25. The former Joint Vigilance Commissioner, Mr. C. Umashankar, who unearthed a cremation shed scandal and a colour TV scam in 1995-96 against the then AIADMK rulers, is among the three IAS officers left without a posting for over one-and-a-half months now.

While Mr. T. K. Ramachandran and Mr. Harminder Singh, ``on wait'', have been recommended for postings in the Election Commission and the Directorate of Survey and Settlements, Mr. Umashankar is the lone IAS officer cooling his heels with no clue to his slot.

After the AIADMK regime took charge, Mr.Umashankar was eased out of his post as Tiruvarur Collector on June 11 along with several other IAS officers, who were put on ``wait''. According to official sources, the present AIADMK Government initiated a ``preliminary'' departmental inquiry into the issue of tenders for purchase of computers in Tiruvarur during Mr. Umashankar's tenure.

While computers were purchased for Rs. 2.5 crores through three tenders, the first one issued for buying computers worth Rs. 78 lakhs came under scrutiny, say the sources. The ``inquiry'' revealed that Mr.Umashankar himself had acted as a technical consultant and authorised award of contract to the second lowest bidder, as the company won a greater benchmark in technical expertise.

Though this was a ``procedural deviation'' as offical guidelines state the services of government-appointed experts should be used, the inquiry team did not find ``adequate material'' to initiate departmental action against him, say the sources.

Sources in the Public department, say Mr.Umashankar is now the only IAS officer, who has not been recommended for any posting.

Perhaps, not without reason. In 1995, Mr. Umashankar, who was then the Additional Collector in Madurai, created a record of sorts, moving the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), against the then Local Administration Minister, Mr. T. M. Selvaganapathy, and the then Madurai Collector and present Chennai Corporation Additional Commissioner, Mr. P. R. Shampath, for his ``punitive transfer.''

He alleged that he was transferred out of Madurai as he had ``unearthed a scandal'' in the construction of cremation sheds.

After the DMK regime took over in 1996, Mr.Umashankar was appointed Joint Vigilance Commissioner.

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Section  : Southern States
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