Pune: A land records official suspended over alleged irregularities in the allocation of land measurement cases in three Pune district talukas has been reinstated and posted in Nanded in the same department, despite a proposed departmental inquiry against him still pending.The Oct 30 order of his posting has prompted activists to question whether safeguards governing reinstatement of suspended officials have been followed.The official was suspended from Sept 5 last year in connection with alleged irregularities in official work.Activist Vijay Kumbhar said a committee was constituted in March 2025 to examine complaints of procedural violations and alleged losses to govt revenue during the official’s tenure in Pune, after which the suspension orders were issued. The complaints concerned the allocation and sequencing of land measurement cases in Maval, Mulshi and Haveli talukas.A senior official from the state revenue department, however, told TOI regarding the latest order that the reinstatement and transfer were as per service rules, and that the departmental inquiry would continue. “The order is as per the service rules and the inquiry will continue despite the reinstatement order,” the official said.Kumbhar, however, questioned whether an official facing serious allegations should be posted to an executive position before the inquiry is completed. He sought disclosure of the inquiry report, details of action taken and accountability for the alleged revenue loss. He also asked whether the allegations had been substantiated, who had been held responsible and whether the allocation of measurement cases and subsequent changes had been independently examined. He urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the revenue minister to intervene and ensure the new posting did not affect the inquiry.The Oct 30 order reinstates the official against a vacant post in Nanded, subject to the final decision in the proposed departmental inquiry. It cites the general administration department’s April 22, 2025, resolution on suspension reviews.“Paragraph 3(v) provides for consideration of reinstatement on merit when suspension has continued for a year and the inquiry remains incomplete, subject to the employee being transferred to a non-executive post elsewhere to prevent interference in the inquiry,” stated a senior official. The resolution also specifies conditions governing the nature and location of such postings. Rule 4(1)(a) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, provides for suspension when disciplinary proceedings are contemplated or pending.The order asks the official to take charge immediately in Nanded and the settlement commissioner and director of land records, Pune, to complete the joining formalities and submit his joining report to govt.Kumbhar said transparency was essential as the department deals directly with land ownership, property records and farmers’ interests. He called for govt to make public the allegations, inquiry findings, extent of the alleged revenue loss and action taken.
