Andhra Pradesh High Court reserves verdict on government’s appeal against CAT orders

VIJAYAWADA: The AP High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the petition filed by the state government challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal’s order reinstating suspended IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao in service.

Advocate General S. Sriram urged the court to stay the CAT orders, arguing that the government has the power to suspend an office while investigations into allegations of irregularities are ongoing.

Rao is facing serious corruption charges and has also acted in a manner that influenced the witnesses in the case against him, which is also a reason for his second suspension, he claimed. The Attorney General said the CAT did not consider these aspects while issuing the orders. He reminded the court that the central government had given permission to prosecute the officer under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Senior advocate B. Adinarayana, appearing for Rao, said the CAT had accused the government of suspending the officer twice on the same charge and ordered his reinstatement.