Suspended K Natarajan still drawing allowance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State Information Commission Mr K Natarajan has been under suspension since November 2012 but continues to draw subsistence allowance for the last 30 months.

A rough estimate states that Mr Natarajan had carried home at least Rs 30 lakh for not doing anything during the last two-and-a-half years.

An RTI reply received by National Campaign for the People’s Right to Information member M T Thomas revealed that the General Administration Department had not taken any steps to either revoke his suspension or terminate him.

K Natarajan, a retired IPS officer, was placed under suspension by the Governor on November 9, 2012, under section 17 (1) & (2), related to the removal of information commissioners, of the RTI Act 2005.

He was suspended pending a formal inquiry by a judge of the Supreme Court into the allegation that he had tried to interfere with the Vigilance investigation into gifting of government land by Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan to his relative when he was Chief Minister.

Mr Natarajan is provided subsistence allowance as applicable to the chief secretary if he is put under suspension. The salary of Chief Secretary is around Rs 1,60,000 per month; 35-40 percent of this is paid as subsistence allowance.  

Mr Natarajan term extends till April 22, 2016. Since no steps have been taken either to exonerate or terminate him, it is certain that he can continue to draw the huge subsistence allowance for 11 more months.

“It is high time the Govt takes appropriate action for his termination and also against the official concerned for the gross inaction in not initiating necessary steps, for his removal under Section 17 of the RTI Act 2005,” Mr Thomas said.