The recent statements made by Andhra Pradesh's assistant commissioner of endowments, K Shanti, to the media have landed her in serious trouble.
On Monday, Endowments Commissioner K Satyanarayana issued a show-cause notice to Shanti, demanding an explanation regarding her marital status, her association with a political party, and her press conference, all of which allegedly violate service rules.
The notice asked Shanti to clarify the identity of her real husband. When she joined the endowments department in 2020, she listed her husband as K Madan Mohan, and this name was recorded in her service register.
“Even when Shanti applied for maternity leave on January 25, 2023, she mentioned Madan Mohan as her husband. But in the press conference, she claimed that she had married one P Subash,” the show-cause notice stated.
Satyanarayana emphasized that marrying another person without divorcing the first husband is a gross violation of the employees' conduct rules, bringing disrepute to the endowments department. He has asked Shanti to provide an explanation within 15 days.
Shanti was suspended on July 2, and six fresh charges have been framed against her. The notice highlighted that it was inappropriate for her to address a press conference without obtaining permission from the commissioner.
Additionally, Shanti had tweeted on May 28, 2023, praising YSRCP general secretary V Vijay Sai Reddy for his speeches and describing him as the backbone of the YSRCP, suggesting her political connections with the party. As a public servant, she is not supposed to have any political affiliation.
The Commissioner also served her a notice on various acts of omission and commission during her tenure in Visakhapatnam.
“A three-member committee has been constituted to probe into allegations of corruption,” the notice concluded.
