RS demotes official over anti-Modi posts

Blurb: Loses increments for period of five years

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 13

Cracking the whip for violation of service rules, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has ordered demotion of a Deputy Director (Security) for five years without increments during the period.

The official, Urujul Hasan, who was under suspension on charges of sharing several “offensive, derogatory, demeaning and sarcastic posts on social media against the Prime Minister, some Union Ministers and Chief Ministers” was acted against, a Rajya Sabha Secretariat notification said.

The officer was also charged with “sharing a number of posts indicating his active involvement/assistance/indulgence in political activities, canvassing in connection with an election to the legislature, failure to maintain political neutrality, etc.” and thereby violating service rules, a Rajya Sabha notification issued on Wednesday said.

The order said as per rules, a penalty of “reduction to the lower grade of Security Officer for a period of five years” was imposed.

The Chairman also directed that the period of reduction shall operate to postpone future increments of his pay falling due in this period. On expiry of the period, he shall not regain his original seniority in the grade of Deputy Director (Security), the notification said.