Chavan for amending laws protecting IAS officers

Informing about the efforts of the state government in probing the Adarsh housing society scam, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday expressed the need to review provisions in the Constitution that provide protection to IAS officials from taking any action against them.

Informing about the efforts of the state government in probing the Adarsh housing society scam, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday expressed the need to review provisions in the Constitution that provide protection to IAS officials from taking any action against them.

HT Image

"The IAS officials are protected by article 311 of the Constitution and it is difficult to take immediate action against them. Therefore some amendments need to be done in the article," Chavan told the legislative council while replying to a discussion on Adarsh society.

The state government has taken action against two officials who were not protected by the Constitution, Chavan said. On progress of the probe, Chavan said prima facie, 21 officials are connected with the case for either taking some decision about the society or owning a flat in the building.

"The CBI has named 14 accused of which seven are defence officials, two people's representatives, one a Central government official and one a retired state official," Chavan said.

The chief minister said that a two-member commission appointed to enquire into irregularities in controversial Adarsh housing society may take more time to submit its final findings.

"The commission appointed on January 8 had three months' time to complete the probe.

However, it seems that the commission would take more time, Chavan told the Council while replying to a discussion on Adarsh society.