New Delhi: A senior official of the Central Public Works Department, A K Verma, had been enjoying leaves since last 25 years.
Verma, who joined duty in 1980, as an Assistant Executive Engineer went on Earned Leave in December 1990 and never turned back to office again.
He continued to seek extension of leave thereafter and refused to report to work even when his leaves were rejected.
In September 1992, an inquiry was instituted against him of major penalty for willful absence of duty.
Currently, an executive engineer, Verma did not cooperate with the inquiry and hence the matter got delayed and a fresh chargesheet was issued in his name in 2005.
After establishing the charges, the inquiry report was submitted to Minister of Urban Development in July 2007 which was accepted by the then minister next month.
However, Verma being lucky, was still safe as the file only gathered dust in the minister's office. No action was taken against him.
In 2014, eventually Venkaiah Naidu took charge as Urban Development Minister, and started streamlining CPWD functionary. Soon after assuming office, he directed review of pending vigilance and disciplinary cases for expeditious action against the accused.
Verma's case surfaced in due course and Naidu directed his dismissal from service.
As a result, the undisciplined engineer was kicked out from his services.
