Hyderabad: Former Chief Secretary of Telangana and senior IAS officer Shailendra Kumar Joshi has approached the Telangana High Court, filing a writ petition to suspend the operation of the report submitted by the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission of Inquiry that probed alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP).
Mr Joshi, who served in key administrative roles during the BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) government, including as Irrigation Secretary, has also sought a stay on all further proceedings and adverse findings recorded against him in the report and related government presentations.
“Denied Opportunity to Defend Myself”: Joshi Tells Court
In his petition, Mr Joshi contended that the commission did not issue any formal notice asking him to appear or respond to specific allegations. He maintained that–
- He was only served with a summons and made spontaneous replies, which were later converted into an affidavit and marked as evidence.
- He was not allowed to cross-examine or respond to allegations that emerged later in the report.
- During the inquiry’s Q&A session, no specific charges or imputations were ever mentioned or confronted to him.
Mr Joshi asserted that he was blindsided by stigmatic observations made by the commission – without prior intimation or opportunity to rebut. He claimed that no formal notice was ever given indicating that he would be held responsible for–
- Playing an “improper role” in re-engineering and approvals
- Failing to ensure KLIP packages were taken up as turnkey projects
- Participating in financial and technical decisions allegedly in violation of Business Rules
“Report Forwarded to CBI Is Unjustified,” Says Former Chief Secretary
The former top bureaucrat also challenged the government’s decision to forward the report to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further inquiry, stating that such a move was untenable in light of the procedural lapses and violation of natural justice in the commission’s inquiry process.
Long and Distinguished Service Record Cited
Mr Joshi, who retired from the Indian Administrative Service on December 31, 2019, served for over 35 years in both the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana cadres. In his petition, he underscored his “unblemished record” and the sensitive and high-profile roles he held in both the Union and State governments. His elevation as the Chief Secretary of Telangana was a culmination of his decades-long public service.
Legal Ground: Violation of Principles of Natural Justice
The core of Mr Joshi’s legal argument hinges on the violation of the principles of natural justice. He argued that stigmatic findings cannot be recorded without prior notice, nor can someone be condemned without being given an opportunity to explain or defend themselves.
Mr Joshi has requested the Telangana High Court to–
- Suspend the operation of the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission report
- Stay all further actions or proceedings based on the report
- Set aside the adverse findings recorded against him
The High Court is expected to take up the matter in the coming days.
