IAS Officers' Association expresses anguish over arrest of probationer

Patna,(BiharTimes): The Bihar chapter of the IAS Officers’ Association on Thursday expressed "deep anguish" at the manner in which IAS probationer Dr Jitendra Gupta was arrested early on Wednesday.

A delegation of Association will meet the governor and the chief minister to protest the arrest. The Association will bear Dr Gupta's legal expenses,

This was decided at a meeting held on Thursday. Over 50 officers attended it. The meeting was chaireded by its president Amita Paul.

“The high-handedness and hurried manner of arrest has brought the state of Bihar and its entire system of governance into disrepute, thereby making it increasingly difficult for conscientious public servants to discharge the duties as per the rule of law," a resolution passed in this regard said.

It further said: "The larger question is whether an officer can be held criminally liable for any act of omission or commission of others employed in her/his office. By this bizarre logic, all 'public servants' (including those holding the highest judicial/ legislative/executive offices) can be held conveniently culpable at the whims and fancies of any law enforcing agency or any other dispensation."

Off the record the officers say that the action has sent a very wrong signal.

Meanwhile, the General Administration Department of the state has initiated the process of suspending Dr Gupta, who has maintained he is innocent.