Application to include Adl CS Prabodh Saxena in ODI lisit withdrawn from HC 

Additional Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena got a major relief from Himachal High Court on Monday as an application filed before the court against him blaming the state to not include Adl CS in ODI (Officers of doubtful integrity) was withdrawn by the applicant  Baldev Sharma.

Application was moved in the court in month of September alleging that Saxena is accused in INX media case being probed by the CBI. During previous hearing Himachal Pradesh High court sought reply from the state and CBI. The applicant had demanded that Saxena’s name be included in the list of tainted officers.  State government had submitted before the court that Adl CS couldn’t be figured in the ODI as prosecutions and investigation agency did not frame charges however a chargesheet had filed against the Adl CS in INX Media case. CBI also submitted before the court that it is about to frame charges against the Adl CS and the matter is pending before agency.

During the hearing on the matter on Monday, the applicant withdrew his application.  It was also approved by the High Court.  The HC observed during the hearing that applicant could move before the court if state didn’t include the name in the ODI list after framing the charges.   Applicant has alleged in the application that the Chief Secretary deliberately did not include the name of Prabodh Saxena in the list of tainted officers.  While filing the list of tainted officers in the High Court, the Chief Secretary was aware that a criminal case was pending against Prabodh Saxena.  They were posted on sensitive posts to benefit Prabodh Saxena.  He is posted as Additional Chief Secretary Finance in Himachal Government.  It was argued that a case was registered against Prabodh Saxena in the CBI court, Delhi, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.  CBI has filed a charge sheet against Saxena in this case of 350 crores.  Despite this, he was posted on sensitive posts.  The matter was exposed in 2014. The issue of posting of tainted officers to sensitive posts came to light in the year 2014. At that time, the state government had submitted a list of 43 tainted officers posted in sensitive posts to the court. On January 8, 2014, the state government informed the court that all tainted officers had been removed from sensitive posts.

While disposing of the PIL, the court had made it clear that all ODIs should not be posted on sensitive public posts and a list of ODI in the matter should be submitted in the court with full information.