Bhubaneswar, Aug. 18: The Odisha Administrative Tribunal (OAT) has given a clean chit to Prasanta Kumar Sahu, a junior volleyball coach, who had been put under suspension for allegedly misbehaving with former Indian hockey captain and BJD MP Dillip Tirkey.
Sahu remained suspended for nearly nine months from May 30, 2010, to March 14, 2011. He was reinstated, but Sahu had moved the OAT because the suspension period was not removed from his service career.
“The disciplinary proceedings also stand quashed for grave procedural infirmities and being based on heavy media pressure, rather than any substantive irregularity of the applicant,” said OAT in its order issued on August 13.
According to the allegation, Sahu had misbehaved with Tirkey on May 27, 2010, when the latter had gone to the stadium with his students for practice.
The team was practising to participate in the CM’s Cup All India Hockey Tournament from June 12 to 20, 2010. The students were the part of the “Orissa Stars” under Dillp Tirkey Sports Research and Foundation. They were also video shooting the practice for this purpose.
Sahu, who was then in charge of the stadium, objected to the shooting saying he would not allow it unless it had the necessary sanction from the government. Later the issue turned murkier.
Tirkey had reportedly said that when he, along with his players accompanied by physiotherapist Kirti Prasad Das, went to the stadium on May 27, they were asked by Sahu to leave right then.
Following a hue and cry over the issue, the government had ordered a probe by the director of sports. Even chief minister Naveen Patnaik had termed it as “an unfortunate incident”.
Later, the ruling party sent him to Rajya Sabha. However, in his submission during the inquiry, Tirkey did not mention anything about his meeting with Sahu that day.
In its order, the OAT said the chargesheet did not indicate the date of alleged misbehaviour with Tirkey, but drew attention to media reports.
“We hold that the disciplinary proceedings suffer from serious infirmity and hence not sustainable in the eyes of law. We also hold that the main charge based on which suspension was resorted to, has not been proved in the inquiry and the suspension order is accordingly irregular and bad in law,” the OAT says in its order.
The OAT also quashed his suspension from 30.05.2010 to 14.03.2011 and asked the government to treat it as duty. Sahu is now entitled to full pay and allowances due and admissible to him during the period of suspension.
On being contacted, Tirkey said: “I am busy in a meeting at Sundergarh. I will react to it later.”
“I am relieved,” Sahu said.
