This is the reward for my fight against corruption, says Raju Narayana Swamy   

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Based on the reports the State government had recommended to the Centre to dismiss him from service, an emotional Senior IAS officer Raju Narayana Swamy said on Friday that it was the reward for his fight against corruption.

“I am being hunted as I had exposed corruptions in Coconut Development board. I don’t blame anyone. I blame the system, the lobby in the State as well as Union service, who perpetrate corruption. From this what I understand is the system will try to destroy officers who stand against corruption,” he said.

Raju Swamy said he would discuss his grievance with his like-minded friends, officers, and take legal course against any move to sack him. “My hands are clean and hence I need not fear anything. The lobby had started scheming against me even from my fight against corruption in Munnar land encroachment case,” he said.

A news report on Friday said that the State had sent a recommendation to Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances & Pensions to dismiss Raju Narayana Swamy, who bears additional chief secretary’s post, from service on disciplinary grounds. However, he added that he came to know about it only from media and he had not got any notice for relinquishing his official duty.

Minister Thomas Isaac also said he was not aware of any recommendation made to dismiss him from State government service. Before completing his tenure as Coconut Development Board chairman, the State government had called Swamy back and subsequently, he approached Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) against this.

Swamy was appointed as the chairman on July 17, 2018 and he joined duty on August 8, 2018. The State government called him back when could remain in service maximum till August 8, 2019.

According to the Central government rules, State cannot call back an IAS officer within two years unless there is retirement, promotion, deputation or training that exceeds two months.

Also, if the officer has to be called back, a special committee will have to meet and take a decision on it.

Stating these rules, Raju Narayana Swamy had got a stay against the decision to call him back.