IPS officer ABV Rao’s suspension has been lifted

Vijayawada: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Wednesday lifted the suspension imposed on a senior IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao.

The CAT rejected the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to suspend Venkateswara Rao for the second time on identical allegations as illegal and stressed that it amounted to harassment of the employee.

“It is nothing short of harassment to suspend an employee for a second time, especially after the Supreme Court has declared such action illegal,” the CAT said in its verdict. The court directed the government to reinstate the IPS officer and clear the arrears due to him.

The suspension of Venkateswara Rao was initiated by the YSRCP government after the Anti-Corruption Bureau reported irregularities in procurement of surveillance equipment. The IPS officer challenged his suspension before the CAT, which initially ruled against him. However, the Supreme Court overturned the CAT’s decision. The state government then appealed the Supreme Court’s decision to the Supreme Court, resulting in a legal process that lasted about two years. Eventually, the Supreme Court dismissed the state government’s petition, leading to the lifting of Rao’s suspension and his reinstatement.

However, within days of his reinstatement, the Andhra Pradesh government suspended him again, citing ongoing criminal cases. Rao challenged this subsequent stay order before the CAT, which in its recent judgment revoked the stay.

Rao, a 1990-batch IPS officer and one of the senior-most officers on the list, would have been considered for the post of DGP of Andhra Pradesh but for his suspension. It may be recalled that the Election Commission recently appointed another IPS officer subordinate to Rao as the DGP of Andhra Pradesh just a day before the CAT decision.