Directed to report to personnel department and not leave headquarters without prior permission
PANAJI
The State government on Wednesday suspended Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik with immediate effect citing likely disciplinary proceedings against him.
In an order issued by the Vigilance director Akshay Potekar it is said that a disciplinary proceedings against Naik is contemplated.
“Now therefore, the Governor of Goa, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, places Rajesh Naik, Chief Town Planner (Planning) under suspension with immediate effect,” Potekar said.
Naik is directed to report to the department of personnel during the suspension period and will not leave the headquarters without obtaining the previous permission of the competent authority.
In the last couple of months, the State witnessed several protests by citizens and activists demanding removal of Naik, accusing him of being instrumental in the rampant conversion of Goa’s green zones.
Naik, who was granted service extension by the State government, in August last year, has been facing charges of deviation from his primary responsibility of town planning and failing to prioritise the preservation of the State’s natural areas.
Naik, a senior town planner with the department of Town and Country Planning, was promoted to the post of Chief Town Planner in November 2017.
Activists had moved High Court challenging the service extension granted to Naik, accusing him of permitting the conversion of more than 23,16,572 sqm of land under Section 16B of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act and allowed conversion of more than 22,14,719 sqm of land under Section 17(2) of the TCP Act.
