Amaravati: In a rare gesture of contrition, former IAS officer Praveen Prakash has publicly apologised to two retired senior bureaucrats, acknowledging that the disciplinary actions taken against them during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government were “unwarranted” from an ethical and moral standpoint.
In a video message shared on social media, Prakash extended his apology to retired IPS officer A.B. Venkateswara Rao and former IRS officer J. Krishna Kishore, both of whom were suspended during the 2019–2024 YSRCP regime.
Acknowledges Moral Error in Approving Disciplinary Action
Praveen Prakash, who served as Principal Secretary (General Administration Department) under then Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, admitted that he had approved disciplinary files against the two officers without sufficiently weighing the ethical implications.
“I realised it and I called both of them and said sorry. But man is a social animal. I think it is my duty also to publicly say sorry to both A.B. Venkateswara Rao sir and Krishna Kishore sir. Sir, please pardon me in your thoughts,” Prakash said in the video message.
Reflecting on the episode, he added, “I should have worn the lens of ethics and morality. Same thing in the case of Krishna Kishore. Both cases, had I worn the glasses of ethics and morality, both proposals would have been shot down.”
Background of the Cases
During the YSRCP government, A.B. Venkateswara Rao was suspended and booked over alleged corruption, while J. Krishna Kishore, who had served in key administrative capacities, also faced disciplinary action.
However, following the 2024 Assembly elections, the TDP-led NDA government under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu dropped further proceedings against Rao, citing lack of merit in the charges.
Prakash, who resigned from the IAS in July 2024, noted that his decision to approve disciplinary proceedings was in line with procedural norms at the time but admitted that, in retrospect, he failed to apply moral judgment to the situation.
“Ethics Must Guide Administration,” Says Prakash
In his message, Prakash emphasised that bureaucrats must go beyond strict rule-based decision-making and also consider ethical and moral dimensions while discharging administrative duties. “First put the lens of ethics and morality,” he reiterated, underlining the importance of compassion and fairness in governance.
About Praveen Prakash
A 1994-batch IAS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, Praveen Prakash previously served in several key administrative roles, including Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Velagapudi.
He holds a B.Tech. degree and postgraduate qualifications from Syracuse University. Proficient in English, Hindi, and Telugu, Prakash has earned recognition for his contributions to education and governance reforms.
Born on July 1, 1971, he has been known for his administrative acumen and policy expertise throughout his career.
