The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Monday ordered maintaining status quo on the Election Commission of India’s April 25 order debarring Karnataka cadre IAS officer Mohammed Mohsin. It directed the State government to hold disciplinary proceedings against him for an alleged misconduct when he was on deputation as general observer for a Parliament constituency in Odisha.
The EC issued the order within hours of the tribunal’s interim order of staying EC’s decision of suspending him for allegedly violating instructions related to SPG (Special Protection Group) protectees in searching the helicopter used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for campaigning in Sambalpur, Odisha.
A Division Bench comprising K.B. Suresh (judicial member) and C.V. Shankar (administrative member) passed the interim order on an application filed by Mr. Mohsin. The EC’s April 25 order does not state the nature of the misconduct committed by him and facts were not disclosed despite his requests, it was claimed in the application.