Mira-Bhayandar: After a span of nearly five years, the state government authorities have finally blocked the attempted backdoor entry of a sacked guard-turned-public relations officer (PRO) in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) by scrapping the resolution passed by the erstwhile standing committee paving way for his reinstatement in 2020.
Employed as a guard, Sachin Chavathe had mysteriously secured the post of PRO during an employment drive initiated by the civic body. However, following complaints registered by a social activist, it came to light that Chavathe had allegedly submitted bogus educational certificates to substantiate his qualifications of being a Diploma holder in Journalism and Communication. Not only was he dismissed from the job 2, August, 2011, but a case of cheating and forgery was registered against him at the Bhayandar police station.
Four top officials including the then municipal commissioner were also charged for disobeying directions of law and criminal conspiracy with intent to save a person from punishment. The quartet were later absolved of the charges.
Chavathe filed a petition in the Bombay High Court (7280/2011) challenging the orders of his dismissal praying for revocation with a contention that he had filed two applications for the post and the said certificates were not taken into consideration while making the appointments. Although the HC refused to entertain Chavathe’s petition it allowed him to approach the appropriate authority for remedy.
Subsequently, on the virtue of provisions under section 56 (4) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1949, Chavathe approached the standing committee which unanimously passed a resolution offering their no-objection towards the reinstatement on 16, March, 2020.
The fate of the resolution which was pending with the state’s urban development department (UDD) for nearly five years was finally suspended in adherence to section 451(3) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1949 after going through the facts submitted by the municipal commissioner.
The act allows the state government to modify, revise, or revoke an order made under sub-section (1). A government order in this context was released by deputy secretary of UDD-Sushila Pawar on Thursday (13, February).
