UMA SHANKAR I.A.S-Interview to a Tamil daily after the revokation of his Suspension

உமா சங்கர் பேட்டி!

சாதிச் சான்றிதழ் தொடர்பாகக் கேள்வி எழுப்பும் அதிகாரம், மாநில அரசுக்குக் கிடையாது. யூ.பி.எஸ்.சி-க்கு மட்டுமே அதிகாரம் உண்டு என தமிழக அரசால் பணியிடை நீக்கம் செய்யப்பட்ட ஐஏஎஸ் அதிகாரி உமாசங்கர் ஆனந்த விகடனுக்கு அளித்த பேட்டியில் கூறியுள்ளார்.
ஒரு ஐ.ஏ.எஸ். அதிகாரி மீது நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டதற்காக தெரு வில் நின்று பொதுமக்கள் போராட்டம் நடத்தும் அதிசயம், உமாசங்கர் விஷயத்தில்தான் நடந்திருக்கிறது.
சென்னையின் அரங்குகளிலும் நெல்லையின் தெருக்களிலும் நின்று 'உமாசங்கரைப் பணியில் சேர்த்துக்கொள்' என்று மக்கள் கோரிக்கைவைக்கிறார்கள். இது எப்படிச் சாத்தியம் ஆனது?

"ஆண்டவன் ஒருவனை நம்பியே களத்தில் நிற்கிறேன். உலகின் பல்வேறு மூலைகளில் இருந்தும் முகம் தெரியாதவர்கள்கூட தொலைபேசி வாயிலாகவும், இ-மெயில் மூலமாகவும் வார்த்தைகளிலும் எழுத்திலும் நம்பிக்கையை விதைக்கிறார்கள். முன் எப்போதையும்விட, என் வீடு இப்போது மகிழ்ச்சியும் அன்பும் நிறைந்து காணப்படுகிறது.
முதல்வருக்கு நன்றி!" - தெளிவாகப் பேசுகிறார் உமாசங்கர். தமிழகத்தின் பிரபலமான ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்., அதிகாரியாக இருந்த உமாசங்கரைப் பணியிடை நீக்கம் செய்திருக்கிறது அரசு.

"20 வயதிலேயே அரசுப் பணிக்கு வந்தவன் நான். வங்கிப் பணியில் இருந்துகொண்டே சிவில் சர்வீஸ் தேர்வு எழுதி, 26-வது வயதில் ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்., ஆனேன். முதலில் வேலூரில் ஒரு வருடம் உதவி கலெக்டர். பிறகு மயிலாடுதுறை, மதுரை, திருவாரூர் என வெவ்வேறு ஊர்களிலும், துறைகளிலும் பணி. பிறகு வந்த அ.தி.மு.க. ஆட்சியில் ஒழுங்கு நடவடிக்கை ஆணையராக ஐந்து ஆண்டுகளுக்கு மேல் வனவாசம். தி.மு.க. ஆட்சி வந்ததும் எல்காட் எம்.டி. பணி. அதன் பிறகு, தமிழ்நாடு கேபிள் டி.வி. கார்ப்பரேஷன் பணி. அங்கிருந்து வேறு பணிக்கு திடீரென மாற்றப்பட்டேன். வருமானத்துக்கு மீறி சொத்து சேர்த்ததாக லஞ்ச ஒழிப்பு போலீஸ் என்னை விசாரிக்க... நான் நீதிமன்றப் படியேற... பணி நீக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டு இப்போது வீட்டில் உள்ளேன்."
"உங்களை தலித் ஆதரவு அதிகாரி என்று கூறுகிறார்களே?"

"இன்னும் சிலர் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் என்பார்கள். தீவிரமாக மக்கள் பணி செய்வதால், சிலர் 'தீவிரவாதி' என்றார்கள். நான் எங்கு பணியில் இருந்தாலும், நிலமற்ற ஏழை விவசாயிகள் பெருமளவில் என்னைச் சந்திப்பார்கள். அவர்களில் 90 சதவிகிதம் பேர் தலித்துகள். தாழ்த்தப்பட்ட குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்து வளர்ந்தவன் என்பதால், அவர்களின் வலியை என்னைவிட வேறு யார் உணர்ந்துகொள்ள முடியும்? என் அலுவலகம், வீடு இரண்டின் கதவும் அவர்களுக்காக எப்போதுமே திறந்தே இருக்கும். இதனால்தானோ என்னவோ, எனக்குக் குறைவான நண்பர்களே உள்ளனர். 20 ஆண்டுகள் பணி முடித்துவிட்டேன். மீதம் உள்ள 15 ஆண்டுகளையும் பாதி அரசுப் பணி, மீதி மக்கள் பணி என்று வடிவமைத்துக்கொள்வதாகத் திட்டம் இருக்கிறது."
"உங்களை எதிரியாக நினைத்த ஜெயலலிதாவே உங்களுக்கு ஆதரவாக அறிக்கைவிடும் அளவுக்கு வந்திருக்கிறாரே?"

"பணியிடை நீக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டதும், 'உங்களுக்காகக் களம் இறங்குகிறோம்' என்று பல தரப்புகளில் இருந்தும் ஆதரவு அலை. 'வேண்டாம். அரசியல் சாயம் பூசுவார்கள். நான் அரசியல் சார்பற்ற அதிகாரியாகவே தொடர விரும்புகிறேன்' என்றேன். ஆனால், நெருக்கடி முற்ற முற்ற... அவர் களே களத்துக்கு வந்துவிட்டார்கள். தேவேந்திரகுல வேளாளர் உட்பட பல்வேறு அமைப்புகள் தமிழகம் முழுவதும் ஆர்ப்பாட்டம், போராட்டங்களை நடத்தி வருகிறார்கள். கம்யூனிஸ்ட் தோழர்கள், வைகோ, டாக்டர் கிருஷ்ணசாமி உள்ளிட்ட தலைவர்கள் பேசி வருகிறார்கள். ஆனால், முன்னாள் முதல்வர் ஜெயலலிதா பேசுவார்... அறிக்கைவிடுவார் என்று நான் எதிர்பார்க்கவே இல்லை. 'பலவான்களை உனக்காக இறங்கிப் பேசவைப்பேன்' என்கிறது பைபிள். அது தான் இன்று நடக்கிறது!"
"கருணாநிதியின் செல்லப் பிள்ளையாக இருந்தீர்கள். உங்களுக்குள் பிணக்கு வர என்ன காரணம்?"

"நான் யாருக்கும் செல்லப் பிள்ளை கிடையாது. என்றுமே மக்களுக்காக செயல்படும் பிள்ளையாகத்தான் இருந்து வருகிறேன். கோப்புகள் அனைத்திலும் கேள்வி கேட்காமல் கையெழுத்திடும் அதிகாரிகளையே அரசியல்வாதிகள் விரும்புகிறார்கள். ஆனால், இன்று துணை முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் மட்டுமே துணிச்சலாகக் கேள்வி கேட்டு, சாதக பாதகங்களை விளக்கிச் சொல்லும் சில அதிகாரிகளைத் தனக்குக் கீழ் வைத்திருக்கிறார்."
"அ.தி.மு.க. ஆட்சி வனவாசம் என்கிறீர்கள். தி.மு.க. ஆட்சிக்கு வந்ததும்

உங்களுக்கு நல்ல பதவிகள்தானே கொடுக்கப்பட்டன?"

"தி.மு.க. ஆட்சிக்கு வந்ததும் என்னை அழைத்த முதல்வர், 'எங்கேய்யா போறே?' என்றார். கம்ப்யூட்டரில் ஆர்வம் என்ப தால் 'எல்காட்' என்றேன். ஓ.கே. என்றார். அந்தச் சமயத்தில்தான் இலவச கலர் டி.வி. திட்டம் நடைமுறைக்கு வந்தது. பலரும் பதறிஅடித்துப் பின்வாங்கிய அந்தத் திட்டத்தை நான் கையில் எடுத்து வெற்றிகரமாகச் செயல்படுத்தினேன். எல்காட்டின் துணை நிறுவனமான 'எல்நெட்', டைடல் பார்க் அருகில் உள்ளது. இந்த நிறுவனம் 'ஈ.டி.எல். இன்ஃப் ராஸ்ட்ரக்சர்' என்ற துணை நிறு வனத்தைத் தொடங்கியது.

இதற்காக 25 ஏக்கர் பள்ளிக்கரணையில் இடம் வாங்கப்பட்டது. ஆனால், நாளடைவில் அந்த கம்பெனியே காணாமல் போனது. அந்த முறைகேடுகளை விசாரிக்கப் போனபோது, கோப்புகள் காணாமல் போய்விட்டதாகச் சொன்னார்கள். நானே அமர்ந்து தேடி, கிடைத்த கோப்புகளை வைத்து ஆய்வு செய்யச் சென்றேன். நான் அங்கு சென்ற சில நிமிடங் களிலேயே 'உங்களை மாற்றி விட்டார்கள்' என்று தகவல் வந் தது. ஆனால், முறைகேடுகள்பற்றி தெளிவான அறிக்கையை, முதல்வர், தலைமைச் செயலர், எல்காட் போர்டு ஆகியோருக்கு அனுப்பினேன். இவை அனைத்தையும் சென்னை உயர்நீதி மன்றம், மத்திய தீர்ப்பாயத்தில் பிரமாணப் பத்திரமாக தாக்கல் செய்துள்ளேன். நீதிமன்ற நட வடிக்கையில் இருப்பதால் பிர மாணப் பத்திரத்தில் குறிப்பிட் டுள்ளதைத் தவிர வேறு எதையும் தெரிவிக்க விரும்பவில்லை!"
"லஞ்ச ஒழிப்பு குற்ற விசாரணை உங்கள் மீது தொடர்கிறதா?"

"வருமானத்துக்கு அதிகமாகச் சொத்து சேர்த்ததாக விசாரிக் கிறார்கள். உடனடியாக என் மீது வழக்கு பதிவு செய்து, என்னைக் கைது செய்யுங்கள் என்றுதான் நீதிமன்றத்தில் என் வழக்கறிஞர் வாதாடினார். ஆனால், அதை செய்யத் தயங்குகிறார்கள். ஏன் என்றால், என்னுடைய கணக்கு வழக்குகள் அனைத்தும் தெளிவாக உள்ளன. ஓர் அரசு ஊழியன் 15 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய்க்கு மேல் எது வாங்கினாலும் அரசுக்குத் தெரியப்படுத்த வேண்டும் என்பது விதி. கம்ப்யூட்டர், செல்போன், கார் என்று எது வாங்கினாலும் உடனடியாகத் தெரியப்படுத்தி வருகிறேன்.

அப்படி இருக்கையில் என் மீது என்னவென்று அவர்கள் எஃப். ஐ.ஆர். ஃபைல் செய்வார்கள்? இந்த வழக்கில்தான் உயர்நீதிமன்ற தடை உத்தரவு வாங்கியிருக் கிறேன். இதை எல்லாம் எஸ்.சி., எஸ்.டி. கமிஷனுக்குப் புகாராக அனுப்பினேன். அந்தக் கோபத் தில்தான் என் சாதிச் சான்றித ழைக் காரணம் காட்டி, என்னைப் பணி நீக்கம் செய்துள்ளார் முதல்வர். நான் இந்து தலித் கோட்டாவில் பணிக்குச் சேர்ந்த வன். காலப்போக்கில் நம்பிக்கையின்பால் கிறிஸ்துவ தேவாலயங்களுக்குச் சென்றுவருகிறேன். இதில் என்ன தவறு இருக்கிறது? இதனால் தாழ்த்தப்பட்ட சமூகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த நான் பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பைச் சேர்ந்தவனாக மாறிவிடுவேனா? மேலும், சாதிச் சான்றிதழ் தொடர்பாகக் கேள்வி எழுப்பும் அதிகாரம், மாநில அரசுக்குக் கிடையாது. யூ.பி.எஸ்.சி-க்கு மட்டுமே அதிகாரம் உண்டு."
"கருணாநிதி அரசின் சாதனை என்று எதையாவது சொல்ல விரும்புகிறீர்களா?"

"ஓரிரு விஷயங்கள் உண்டு. சி.பி.எஸ்.சி., மெட்ரிக், ஸ்டேட் போர்டு, ஆங்கிலோ-இந்தியன் என்று பாடத் திட்டத்தில் இருந்த ஏற்றத்தாழ்வுகளைப் போக்கக் கொண்டுவந்த சமச்சீர் கல்வித் திட்டம் பாராட்டப்பட வேண்டிய ஒன்று. அதேசமயம், 'நேர் நேர் தேமா... நிறை நேர் புளிமா' என்று குழப்பியடிக்கும் அளவுக்கு தமிழ்ப் பாடங்களில் இலக்கணம் தேவை இல்லை என்பது என் கருத்து. செய்யுளைக் குறைத்து உரைநடையை அதிகரித்தால், பிறகு மாணவர்களே ஆர்வமாக இலக்கணம் கற்பார்கள்."
"அடுத்து என்ன செய்வதாக உத்தேசம்?"

"நான் பெரிய குடும்பத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவன். 12 பேர்களில் ஒருவ னாகப் பிறந்தவன். மாதத்துக்கு ஒரு லட்சம் ரூபாயை வரியாகச் செலுத்தும் அளவுக்கு வருமானம் உள்ள தம்பி இருக்கிறார். தங்கைகள், வெளிநாட்டில் இன்ஜினீயர்களாக இருக்கிறார்கள். அவர்கள் அனுப்பிய பணத்தில் கார் வாங்கி உள்ளேன். பணியிடை நீக்கம் செய்யப்பட்ட நேரத்தில், கார் வாங்கிய ஒரே ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்., அதிகாரி நானாகத்தான் இருப்பேன்.

இதையும் அரசிடம் தெரிவித்துவிட்டேன். என் அனுபவங்களைப் புத்தகமாக எழுத உள்ளேன்.

Complaint filed by C.Umashankar IAS against the State of Tamil Nadu

Before the National Commission for SC/ST, New Delhi
From
C.Umashankar IAS., (1990 batch)
No.33 Balakrishnan Road,
D1, Ashok Swasthi Apts., 3rd Floor,
Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur,
Chennai 41. Tel: 044-42020423 Mob: 94443-00123


To

Chairman,
National Commission for Scheduled Castes,
Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,
New Delhi - 110003
Fax: 91-11-24632298 Email: chairman-ncsc@nic.in

Complaint filed by C.Umashankar IAS., against the State of Tamil Nadu

I was selected for appointment as an IAS Officer by the Union Public Service Commission against SC quota and allotted to Tamil Nadu cadre during 1990. I joined the Service on 20th August 1990.
I state that during 1995 I was working as Additional Collector, (Development) and Project officer, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Madurai. There was misuse of funds allotted for construction of Cremation Sheds for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes under Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY). I refused to obey the illegal order of the then District Collector, Madurai Mr.P.R.Sampath IAS., to award the contract to a private contractor. A pubic interest litigation came to be filed in the Madras High Court. I filed an affidavit in the said writ petition narrating the true facts. (Annexure A[i]).
A Division Bench of Madras High Court, accepting the affidavit filed by me ordered a CBI enquiry in WP No.15929/1995. (Annexure B[ii]). The real accused in the scam are yet to be punished.
During 1996, the DMK was voted to power. The Government appointed me as Joint Vigilance Commissioner to peruse the files pertaining to high level corruption. I submitted several reports including 1) South India Shipping Corporation Share disinvestment scam (loss of Rs.200 crores) 2) Granite quarry lease scam (loss of about Rs.1000 crores) 3) Allotment of plots and houses of Tamil Nadu housing Board to fictitious persons (loss not estimated) 4) Purchase of 45000 TV antennas and boosters without following tender procedure and without ascertaining the actual need 5) Leasing of 20 acres of Coimbatore Medical College lands to Star hotel, club etc., in the name of women and child development at throwaway lease rent 6) Fraudulent grant of Patta for 7106 acres forest land in Megamalai forest village, Madurai/Theni district to one family etc.
I indicted several senior IAS officers including the ex Chief Secretary Mr.N.Narayanan IAS., Thiru.C.Ramachandran IAS., Dr.S.Narayan IAS., Thiru.Debandranath Sarangi IAS., former Chief Minister, Ministers and others.
To my dismay I found that no worth while action was taken against highly influential officials who were deeply involved in the corruption. I therefore requested the Government to relieve me from the post of Joint Vigilance Commissioner.
During February 1999 I was appointed as District Collector, Tiruvarur. I introduced e-governance in the district administration. This was the first of its kind in the whole of India. Tiruvarur was rated 20 years ahead of rest of India by leading News Paper – Times of India (Annexure C[iii]). The English weekly, THE WEEK, in its millennium edition chose me as the Bureaucrat from all over India who can make the life of Indians better in the new millennium (Annexure D [iv])
I submit that in the next general election, the DMK was defeated and the AIADMK came to power. I was sidelined and appointed as Commissioner for Disciplinary proceedings, an ex-cadre post.
The DMK was voted to power again in May, 2006. I was appointed as Managing Director of ELCOT, a state owned company. I introduced total transparency in the matter of award of contracts by introducing e-tender and also by introduction of a new method of tender evaluation by the bidding contractors themselves. I also introduced the use of large scale free and open source software in Government offices during this period.
While I was working in ELCOT, twice I was called by Tmt.Rajathi Ammal, wife of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to her office at Alwarpet. I should have refused to meet her. However, by way of courtesy I met her in her office. She attempted to influence me to award contract to her men in the matter of purchase of 45000 fishermen wireless sets. I told her that only through e-tender contracts are finalised and I should not be disturbed.
I state that ELCOT along with another private limited company by name New Era Technologies Limited, controlled by one Thiagaraja Chettiar floated a joint venture company named ELNET Technologies Limited. The share of ELCOT in the new company is 26%. The share of New Era Technologies Limited is 24% and the remainder shares were subscribed by the public. This Joint venture company ELNET floated a 100% subsidiary company named ETL Infrastructure Private Limited with intention of floating an Information Technology Park cum Special Economic Zone at Pallikaranai, Chennai. The company owns 26 acres of land which had been given IT Special Economic Zone status by the Government of India. The company built 1.8 million square feet IT building in this IT- Park cum SEZ. The total value of the asset is more than Rs.700 crores. The said company mysteriously disappeared from the control of ELNET and ELCOT obviously with the connivance of former Chairman of ELCOT and political heavy weights. In my capacity as Managing Director, I was also the Chairman of ELNET. I wanted to probe the circumstances in which the ELCOT and ELNET lost control of ETL Infrastructure Limited. I circulated a special resolution to be moved in the Annual General Body meeting of the share holders of ELNET for removal of Unnamali Thiagarajan W/o Thigagraja Chettiar from the office of Managing Director of ELNET (Annexure-E[v]). The Annual General Body meeting of the shareholders of ELNET was to be held on 30th July 2008.
I also sent special reports to the Government regarding the scam namely the mysterious disappearance of ETL Infrastructure Limited worth more than Rs.700 crores (Annexure-F[vi]). I wanted a probe in the role of Mr.Vivek Harinarayanan IAS., and Dr.C.Chandramouli IAS.,
I state while I was physically verifying and searching the records pertaining to the mysterious disappearance of ETL Infrastructure Limited in ELNET's office on 28th July 2008, I received an order of transfer removing me from the post of MD, ELCOT and posting me as Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation Limited (TIIC) (Annexure G[vii]). I have reason to believe that it was a fraudulent transfer. The order of transfer was passed adverse to public interest and to help the said Thiagaraja Chettiar. It is perceived that Mr.M.K.Alagiri, Union Minister was responsible for my abrupt transfer from ELCOT.
While I was working in the TIIC, there was a feud between Maran brothers who own the Sun TV group of Television network and the family of Dr.Kalaignar Karunanidhi, the Hon'ble Chief Minster of Tamil Nadu. The feud between Maran brothers who have become very powerful and one of the richest in the country and M.K.Alagiri, the elder son of the Chief Minster was well known. The burning of Dinakaran News Paper office at Madurai and hurling of petrol bomb and death of 3 innocent persons in the murderous attack is also well known.
I state that the Hon'ble Chief Minister called me and ordered me to take assignment as Managing Director of Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited. I told the Hon'ble Chief Minister that I would not be able to work under Dr.Chandramouli IAS., against whom I had submitted a report on the mysterious disappearance of ETL Infrastructure limited and also pledging of ELCOT's Joint Venture company – ELNET to secure Rs.81 crore loan for the mysteriously disappeared company namely ETL Infrastructure Limited. Dr.Chandramouli IAS., was transferred from the post of Information Technology Secretary cum Chairman of Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited and in his place Mr.P.W.C.Davidar IAS., was appointed. My appointment as MD, Arasu Cable TV corporation was notified simultaneously on 30th October 2008. (Annexure-H[viii])
I assumed office as MD, Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited, a Government owned company on 3rd November 2008.
I found that Sumangali Cable TV, controlled by Maran brothers was indulging in large scale destruction of Optic fibre cable infrastructure of Arasu Cable TV Corporation. Sumangali Cable Vision was determined to ensure that their monopoly was maintained by all means. I brought to the notice of the Government the criminal acts committed by the Sumangali Cable Vision Limited and the involvement of Pongalur Palanichamy, a Minister in the State Cabinet in helping Sumangali Cable TV who destroyed the property of the Government company. I sent several reports including the proposals for arrest of Maran brothers under the preventive detention laws and for action under the penal laws. (Annexure I [ix] – 21 pages)
I state that there was a settlement of the dispute between the Maran brothers and the family of Dr.Kalignar Karunanidhi. As an officer of the All India Service I pursued my job in right earnest and wanted the Maran brothers to be punished and Sumangali Cable TV to be nationalised (Annexure J[x])
I state that I was shunted out of Arasu Cable TV Corporation and posted as Commissioner of Small Savings, an ex cadre post. The Arasu Cable TV Corporation Limited is now almost dead.
I state that the Hon'ble Chief Minister and the Maran brothers became vengeful against me and wanted to disturb me.
While I was working in TIIC I sent an intimation to the State Government under Rule 4 (2)(b) of the All India Service (Conduct) Rules 1968 stating that my wife Suryakala M.Com., BL., was employed in Tessolve Inc. Chennai branch as HR Executive. She was working in that company from 1-4-2008 to 31-12-2008. Her gross salary was Rs.25,000 per month.
I state that the State Government which was determined to throttle me at the behest of the Maran brothers issued a charge memo apropos my wife joining service in Tessolve Inc. The Charge Memo was issued to prevent empanelment of my name in the cadre of Joint Secretary to Government of India. Because of this, I have been denied Joint Secretary empanelment during this year. I have been denied even a car loan and allotment of housing plot by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
I filed OA No.79 of 2010 on the file of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Chennai and obtained stay against the Charge Memo on 16th January 2010 (Annexure- K[xi]).
I received a communication from the Chief Secretary to Government (Annexure- L[xii]) regarding my movable and immovable assets. I sent a reply dated 28-10-2009 (Annexure-M[xiii] ).
On 6-5-2010 a Deputy Superintendent of Police called me over phone and sought an appointment for conducting enquiries regarding my alleged assets disproportionate to my known sources of income. When I asked him under what authority he was asking me to answer his queries, he said he was so authorised by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption. This led to my filing WP No.12274 of 2010 on the file of the High Court. (Annexure-N[xiv] ). The Hon'ble High Court was pleased to admit the writ petition and grant stay.
I also filed WP No.15946 of 2010 (Annexure-O[xv]) questioning the Manual of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption under which the officers of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption, namely police officers conduct enquiries against All India Service officers de-hors the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure. It is my case that the State Government is free to institute any disciplinary proceedings against me in accordance with the provisions of the All India Service Act, Public Servants Enquiries Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure and the State Government is not competent to conduct any enquiry against me without registering a case against me by the due process of law. The writ petition is pending adjudication.
I state that the Government of Tamil Nadu have passed G.O Ms No. 670, Public (Special. A) department, dated 21-7-2010, suspending me from the service pending enquiry to scrutinise the genuineness of the Scheduled Caste community certificate produced by me. (Annexure-P [xvi])
I state that the Government have also issued a press note on 23-7-2010 intimating to the press the cause of my suspension. I state that the law relating to caste certificates is settled. It is only the Committee which can go into the question of caste certificate.
I submit that I submitted the community certificate to the Union Public Service Commission. When the results of the All India Services examination was published by the UPSC, my name was withheld and placed in the provisional category pending verification of the community certificate. The certificate was duly verified and thereafter the result was published.
I submit that the Government have not taken any action against the corrupt bureaucrats. The state Government is targeting me because I have been honest and sincere.
The State Government have caused a publication in the New Indian Express dated 25-7-2010 titled “Umashaknar Did produce false community certificate”, stating that I have produced a false certificate. The news paper report is engineered by the State Government, the Maran brothers and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption of Tamil Nadu (Annexure-Q[xvii]).
I state that in WP No.15946 of 2010 I have alleged that one Mr.Ram Mohan Rao IAS was found in possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income to the extent of several crores of rupees. The amount is said to be about Rs.81 crores. The Government is protecting him. The Government is protecting all corrupt officials and making use of them. The Government does not want officers like me to serve the public.
I state that I am not claiming any special right. I can be charge sheeted under the All India Services Act, Public Servants Enquiries Act , the Prevention of Corruption Act or under the penal laws if the Government have credible information and materials against me. The Government, through the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption have started a smearing campaign against me by planting false stories as if I have produced a false certificate. I have come to know that the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is insisting that an FIR should be filed against me. The State Government headed by the present Chief Minister is intolerant and vindictive against me because I recommended penal action against Maran brothers and made public the scam in ETL Infrastructure where the hands of Mr.M.K.Alagiri, a Central Minster of the DMK party is involved. Thus the State power is being misused against me.
I therefore request the Commission to protect me from illegal harassment by the Tamil Nadu Government, the Chief Minister's family and the powerful Maran brothers who are closely related to the Chief Minister.
Please ensure that enquiry, if any, regarding my caste certificate is conducted by the Central Vigilance Commission or CBI or any other Central agency not under the control of the State Government.
Appropriate action may be initiated to allow me to work under the Central Government or any of the agency of the Central Government not under the control of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
I also request you to ensure proper security to me and my family through Central Security forces.
Dated the 26th July 2010 at Chennai.


C.Umashankar IAS., (RR 1990)
Chennai
044-42020423
Mob: 9444300123
e-mail: umashankarc@gmail.com

[i] ) Annexure A – Affidavit filed before the Madras High Court in what is known as “Cremation Sheds Scam”

[ii] Annexure B - Judgement in Cremation Sheds Scam in WP No. 15929/95 dated
27th February 1996.

[iii] Annexure C – Web report on Tiruvarur e-governance

[iv] Annexure D - THE WEEK, in its millennium edition 2000, declaring me the
man of the next millennium from among the bureaucrats of India.

[v] Annexure E – Draft Special Resolution for removal of Tmt.Unnamalai Thiagarajan
from the post of Managing Director of ELNET.

[vi] Annexure F – Report to Government and the Board of ELCOT regarding the ETL Infrastructure scam.

[vii] Annexure G - Transfer orders to Mr.C.Umashankar IAS from ELCOT to TIIC.

[viii] Annexure-H G.O Rt. No. 4394 Public (Special A) Department, dated 30-10-2008, notifying transfers and postings of Mr.PWC Davidar IAS., Dr.Chandramouli IAS., C.Umashakar IAS., etc.

[ix] Annexure I (21 pages) – Letters and reports sent to Government on illegal OFC cable cutting and other related reports.

[x] Annexure J – Proposal submitted to Government for nationalisation of Sumangali Cable Vision Limited dated 7th January 2010.

[xi] Annexure K – OA No.79 of 2010 filed before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Madras bench.

[xii] Annexure L – Letter from the Chief Secretary to Government seeking my asset details. .

[xiii] Annexure-M – Letter to Chief Secretary dated 30th October 2009 in response to the letter from Government seeking my asset details.

[xiv] Annexure-N Writ application in WP No. 12274 of 2010.

[xv] Annexure- O Writ application in WP No.15946 of 2010

[xvi] Annexure- P G.O Ms No. 670, Public (Special. A) department, dated 21-7-2010, suspending me from the service pending enquiry

[xvii] Annexure-Q News clipping titled “Umashankar did produce false community certificate” in the New Indian Express dated 25th July 2010.

Umashankar I.A.S, a victim of Crony Capitalism.

C.Umashankar IAS, an honest and efficient officer joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1990. He started his journey as an assistant collector in 1992 in Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu. He questioned irregularities in cyclone relief work taking place in the area and was promptly transferred to Seiyar, Thiruvannamalai district. This is indeed is part of the vicissitudes in the professional life of an honest official.

When Umashankar was an additional collector in Madurai between February 1995 and October 1995, he filed corruption cases against then AIADMK minister Selvaganapathy in the “cremation ground shed” case. Thanks to this he was transferred and appointed as an additional director of the South Asian Federation Games in October 1995. The 1996 assembly election in Tamil Nadu resulted in regime change in Tamil Nadu and the DMK formed the next government. In June 1996, Umashankar was appointed as the Joint Vigilance Commissioner. He recommended the DMK government to take action against the former chief minister Jayalalitha and former ministers in the AIADMK government who were connected to various corruption cases. The DMK was more interested in reaping political benefit rather than really trying the culprits. He was disappointed with the government's response and sought to be relieved from the position. Umashankar was appointed as district collector of Thiruvellur district in February 1999. During this period he implemented e-governance project in Thiruvellur and Thiruvellur is the first e-governance district in Tamilnadu. This project got an international attention. Umashankar in Tamil Nadu, Sonal Misra in Gujarat and Sanjay Saju in Andra Pradesh are pioneers in e-governance.

Umashankar groomed himself as an IT and e-governance specialist and he brought many important discussions in e-governance's platform. He strongly argued that developing countries like India should adopt Free Software in e-governance implementation and other government funded projects. In his speech in the National Conference on Free Software which was held in Bangalore on March 20&21, 2010 he reiterated the above points which inspired the audience and injected into them the national importance of using Free Software in government funded project and embracing open standards in such projects. He continued as Thiruvarur collector in June 2001. In 2001 assembly elections the ADMK was voted back to power and Umashankar was transferred as Commissioner of Disciplinary Proceedings to Selam. It was a sort of punishment post.

Between 2001 and 2006, when he was working as commissioner of Disciplinary Proceedings he sharply observed what is happening in IT and e-governance and made necessary contribution as well as intervention to his capacity. One incident is worth quoting now. On April 27 2005, Umashankar wrote an e-mail to Satyanarayan who was then the CEO of NISG(National Institute of Smart Government), the subject line is 'Mr. Satyanarayan are you corrupt?'. The allegation that Umashankar levelled against Satyanarayan was that when the latter was the principal secretary of Communication and IT,he granted many projects to one particular corporation (Price Water House Coopers). Umashankar alleged that there could be an unlawful connection between Satyanarayan and the particular corporation and asked him to reply in 7 days. Srivasta Krishna IAS replied to that by saying that it's unacceptable to level such allegation against an IAS by another fellow IAS officer. Then Srivasta Krishna was working in World Bank, Washington DC, USA in deputation. In the reply Srivasta Krishna mentioned another important information about Umashankar that when Umashankar worked as deputy collector in Trichy between July 1994 and January 1995, he deposited the money that was allocated for ( DRDA - District Rural Development Agency) in the bank where his younger brother was working. This reply looks like 'Are you Mr. Perfect?'. Umashankar replied to Srivasta that he did not deposit the money in the bank where his younger brother is working. He stated that his brother was working in Trichy SBI and the money is deposited in Chennai SBI and he added that he deposited the money in Chennai SBI since the bank offered more interest ie between 11.5% and 13%. This deposit allegation against Umashankar was taken in 2004 by the ADMK government. We have already seen the relation between the ADMK and Umashankar. In the same reply Umashankar mentioned that Srivasta was trying to divert the allegation against Satyanarayan by replying something else and he questioned that when the benefits of e-governance reaches widows, pensioners, the poor and socially marginalized scheduled caste and scheduled tribes? If corruption is tolerated in e-governance, the benefits of e-governance reaching such people will be further delayed.


In May 2006, the DMK came back to power in Tamil Nadu. Umashankar's fame and experience in IT helped him in being appointed as the MD of ELCOT (Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu). He burned his mid night oil in executing important tasks. He worked as a software engineer by extending working hours and sometimes stayed in office. He proved that the government can save between 10% and 20% money when it goes for Free Software such as GNU/Linux and Open Office instead of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. He not only recommended Free Software to the government employees but also organized the training for them in Free Software. Besides that he developed a model of an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) which runs on Free Software coasts only 1.5 lakhs where the proprietary alternative costs between 6 and 7 lakhs. Umashankar introduced ORCA,a Free Software screen reader to the visually challenged people where the proprietary alternative is Rs.20,000/= and more. He organized a training class for such people by Krishnakant Mane, a visually challenged person working for TIFR( TATA Institute of Fundamental Research – Mumbai).

An honest officer and a government indulged in rampant corruption, contradiction starts here! Honesty is the most hated word for the bourgeois politicians. For probing financial irregularities of Thiagaraja S Chettiar while in ELCOT and for condemning and recommending actions against the Arasu cable for it's unlawful actions, Umashankar has been taken revenge by the capitalist-political nexus.

ELCOT is a government of Tamil Nadu enterprise before Umashankar has been appointed as an MD, New Era Technologies (NET) of Thiagaraja S Chettiar and ELCOT jointly started a company called ELNET Technologies Ltd (ETL). ELCOT and NET owned 26% and 24% stack respectively the rest owned by the public. In 2004 ETL started a company called ETL Infrastructure. ETL Infrastructure is an 100% subsidiary company of ETL. Thiagaraja S Chettiar and his wife Unnamalai Thiagaraja were the chairman and the MD of ETL Infrastructure respectively. ETL Infrastructure availed a huge sum of loan by showing the ETL property. ETL Infrastructure owned 1,800,000 square feet land at Pallikarunai worth Rs.700 Cr. Umashankar wondered how ETL lost the control over a company, which started with the fund of ETL and availing huge loan in ETL's name. On July 28 2008, he went to ETL Infrastructure office at Tharamani in searching the documents related to ETL and ETL Infrastructure and retuned without success. As per regulations the MD of ELCOT would be the Chairman of ETL. Umashankar as the Chairman of ETL circulated a special resolution through ETL company secretary in ETL's Annual General Body Meeting on 30th July 2008, to remove Unnamalai Thiagarajan from the MD post. Thanks to that Umashankar was removed from ELCOT by the Tamil Nadu government.

Umashankar was appointed as an MD of Arasu cable on October 30 2008. He condemned the Sumangali Cable Vision's(SCV – a part of Sun Network) unlawful actions against the Arasu cable. In December 2008, He wrote a detailed letter to the office of Tamilnadu Chief minister and the Inspector General of Tamilnadu about Sumangali cable unlawful action and the dying necessary to take action against Sumangali TV. It's alleged that to interrupt Arasu cable telecasting, the cables of Arasu cable were cut by unidentified persons all over the state as per Sumangali's direction. It completely paralyzed the Arasu cable's telecasting. On January 7, 2009, Umashankar wrote to Karunanidhi that the only way to save Arasu cable is to nationalize the Sumangali cable. In order to divert this issue the Tamilnadu government gave a memo to Umashankar which alleged that Umashankar misused his power by granting some benefits to a company called Tessolve through his wife who was then working for Tessolve. Umashankar refuted this allegation with proper explanation. He said that 2.5 acre land allotted to Tessolve in Madurai IT park has been allotted to the company after the cabinet approval on September 28 2008. In October 2008, when Tessolve approached the TIIC (Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation) for a loan, he rightly intimated the government about his wife's employment with the concerned company and the loan was rejected . Such politically motivated actions against Umashankar had an adverse impact on his promotions. He was transferred as Commissioner of Small Savings on January 23 2009.

On May 6, 2010, Karunanidhi government started an inquiry against Umashankar without filling any case. On June 6, 2010, Umashankar filed an affidavit in Madras high court under the article 226 of constitution of India, challenging the enquiry. In the affidavit he mentioned that it's unconstitutional to enquire an IAS by an officer in the rank of DSP without registering a case. The court's judgement came in favour of Umashankar on June 16, 2010.

We've to wait and see the cases that will be filled against Umashankar and to see how the corrupted politician and the business class in forming an unholy alliance and the public and media's on this issue.

Karunanidhi is known for playing caste cards on sensitive issues. In 1999 Karunanidhi rejected action against the district collector and the police commissioner and other officials connected with Tirunelveli massacre in which 17 people were killed( and 11 of them were Dalits) by stating shamelessly that if the government take action against the officials “people belonging to the backward classes” would object to it. In 2010, Karunanidhi is taking action against an IAS officer by alleging that he produced fake community certificate. Many know that Umashankar was a Hindu when he was selected to the Indian Administrative Service and a few know that he embraced Christianity later. Every citizen has a right to practice the religion he/she likes and to change that as they wish. The problem for Karunanidhi is not that Umashankar produced fake community certificate, the real problem for Karunanidhi is that Umashankar may unearth many fraudulences in ELCOT and other areas which may unearth nexus between the bourgeoisie politicians and the business men.