The Federation for People’s Rights here today urged Puducherry Administration to sack M Hariharan, Officer on Special Duty, Lalit Kala Academy and Sangeeth Natak Academy, from service as the charges against him were proved by the committee constituted by the government.

Federation Secretary G Sugumaran, in a statement here, said the government had constituted a committee to probe into the alleged unauthorised foreign trips made by Hariharan.

He said Mr Hariharan during his tenure as the Principal of the Bharathiyar Palkalai Koodam (BPK) had made several visits to the US to attend various functions without prior permission from the government, which was mandatory for a government servant.

The administration after receiving several complaints, instituted a departmental inquiry under S D Sundaresan, JMD, Pondicherry Textile Corporation, who found him guilty.

The reports of the committees constituted to probe irregularities in the capacity as the Principal of BPK by Collector Ragesh Chandra and Special Secretary Thevaneethidas were with the government, Mr Sugumaran alleged that instead of initiating action against Mr Hariharan, the Art and Culture Department protected him.

He also alleged that Mr Hariharan was paid Rs 30,58,280 as salary even after his transfer from BPK.

UNI / 02.03.2010

Federation for People’s Rights (FPR), Puducherry Secretary G. Sugumaran issued a statement on 02.03.2010:

Federation for People’s Rights urges the Puducherry Government to sack M. Hariharan, Officer on Special Duty, Lalith Kala Academy and Sangeeth Natak Academy from service, since the charges against him were proved before the enquiry committee constituted by the Government to probe about his unauthorized foreign tours.

M. Hariharan presently Officer on Special Duty, Lalith Kala Academy and Sangeeth Natak Academy, is former principal of Bharathiar Palkalai Koodam. During 2007 and 2008 he frequently visited USA to attend various events without any prior permission or approval of the Government, which amounts to grave misconduct and insubordination. As per the CCS Rules, a Government servant should obtain prior permission or approval from the competent authority to visit foreign country is obligatory.

The Government after receiving complaints from various quarters instituted a departmental enquiry in this regard under the head of S. D. Sunderasan, JMD, Puducherry Textile Corporation. The enquiry officer conducted the enquiry and submitted the report to the Government recently. The report reveals that the charges leveled against M. Hariharan were proved beyond suspicion.

During his tenure as Principal at Bharathiar Palkalai Koodam he indulged in various corruption, irregularities, misappropriation and mal administration. Already two enquiry committees were constituted in this regard under the head of G. Theva Neethi Dass, then Director of Local Administration Department and Ragesh Chandra, Collector. These committee reports are also with the Government which is against the said delinquent officer.

The officials of Department of Art and Culture instead of taking severe action safe guarding the guilty officer. Due to massive agitation he was transferred from BPK. After assuming charge as OSD to Lalith Kala Academy on December 1999 to December 2009, he was paid Rs. 30,58,280/- as salary without performing any duty.

So, we request the Puducherry administration to take steps to remove M. Hariharan from service to infuse confidence among the public. We are organising an Assembly Picketing Struggle on 12th March 2010 to press this demand.