Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 14: Through an order, under secretary in the department of education (administration), has imposed punishment on deputy director of public instruction (DDPI) of the district, H Diwakar Shetty, by way of stoppage of two annual increments. The punishment was imposed after finding Shetty guilty of dereliction of duty.

Diwakar Shetty was earlier functioning as deputy director of public instruction, Belagavi district. He was charged with dereliction of duty for not furnishing records pertaining to the appointment of Nandababu Hosamani, a lady teacher, in 1995-96. He was served show cause notice on September 18, 2014 in this regard. On January 12, 2015, Shetty had provided reply to the notice, refuting the charge. As he did not provide any clear documentary evidence in support of his reply, disciplinary action was contemplated and departmental inquiry was ordered.

Retired district chief judge, Dharwad, F C Guddakar, was appointed as the inquiry officer to investigate the charge. ;In his report, the inquiry officer found that the charge was established. On December 17 last year, the finding by the inquiry officer was sent to Shetty and he was asked to provide reply in defence of himself. But Shetty had failed to furnish reply to this letter during the prescribed time allotted. The government, therefore, accepted the finding of the report on July 15, 2016, and imposed punishment by way of withholding two annual increments to Shetty, which will be without cumulative affect.