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Maharashtra Suspends Two MPCB Officials for Skipping Minister’s Briefing

The move followed a pro-tem Speaker’s order after Pankaja Munde told the Assembly the officers missed her pollution briefings.

Overview

  • MPCB member secretary M. Devendra Singh and joint director Satish Padval were placed under suspension under All-India Services rules with disciplinary proceedings contemplated.
  • The General Administration Department issued the suspension order within about 24 hours of the directive, with a suspension file placed before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
  • For Singh, the order fixes headquarters in Mumbai, requires prior permission to leave the city, bars private employment, and provides subsistence allowance during suspension.
  • BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar moved a breach of privilege motion as the Assembly escalated the issue after Munde’s complaint during a Chandrapur pollution discussion.
  • The step drew political attention because the MPCB is chaired by Shiv Sena leader Siddhesh Kadam under a department led by BJP’s Munde, and Kadam has not responded publicly.