Bhubaneswar: An Odisha cadre Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer V Karthik has reportedly been accused of serious misconduct and blatant misuse of his official position and authority.
An inquiry by an Internal Complaints Committee has found him sending inappropriate WhatsApp messages to lady officer trainees and lady staff of Central Academy for State Forest Service (CASFOS), Coimbatore, and developing intimate relationships.
A detailed probe has found female officer trainees visiting his place of stay late at night and returning in the early morning. He also has been found guilty of demeaning and denigrating the principal and faculties amongst the officer trainees, causing mental harassment to the subordinates and staff working under him.
According to reports, the internal committee submitted a report to the director, directorate of forest education and ministry of environment, forest and climate change and said, “His behaviour with female officer trainees and also the office staff is against the moral turpitude, against the ethics, values, and morality of a training institution.”
The committee further added, “The conduct of V. Karthick is against the working culture of the training academy and will cost a dangerous precedence in the organization.”
“Hence, V. Karthick continuing as a Lecturer in CASFOS, Coimbatore is untenable and is against the discipline, morality, and ethics. He should be immediately prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre as his tenure in CASFOS ends on June 30, 2024,” the report added.
The internal committee has recommended suitable disciplinary action against Karthik as per the All-India Service Disciplinary and Appeal Rules. The committee recommended that Karthik should never be posted or given any assignment or deputation in the future in training institutions and any female based organisations because he has no gender sensitivity.
The committee stated that charges of his sexual harassment at workplace are being conducted and the report would be submitted for further action as soon as possible.
