Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram has urged disciplinary action against his private secretary, Parag Harshad Gavali, a 2013 batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, over allegations of unauthorised absence. Oram has written to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, as well as Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, seeking appropriate measures against Gavali.
While specific details regarding his absence have not been disclosed, the matter appears serious enough to warrant the minister’s direct intervention. Such cases raise concerns about accountability within the Indian civil service, where disciplinary actions against officers are not uncommon.
For instance, in December 2024, senior Odisha IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi was reassigned to a special duty role in the General Administration and Public Grievance Department following a CBI inquiry into a bribery case. Similarly, in January 2025, an IAS officer from Odisha was convicted for the 11th time in a corruption case, reflecting ongoing integrity challenges within the bureaucracy.
