'Lack Of Commitment': Gujarat Officer Suspended For 'Sleeping' At CM Bhupendra Patel's Event

Jigar Patel was suspended with immediate effect by the state's Urban Development and Urban Housing Department after the cameras caught him dozing off at the Bhuj event.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel

New Delhi: Chief officer of Bhuj municipality in Kutch district in Gujarat, Jigar Patel, was suspended on Saturday, hours after he was allegedly caught sleeping during an event by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, news agency PTI reported.

According to the report, Jigar Patel was suspended with immediate effect by the state's Urban Development and Urban Housing Department after the cameras caught him dozing off at the Bhuj event.

"The order to suspend him for gross negligence and lack of devotion to duty was issued under Rule 5(1)(a) of Gujarat Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1971. Disciplinary action was taken due to his misconduct and lapse," PTI quoted an official as saying.

CM Bhupendra Patel distributed documents of ownership (property cards) of residential housing for the rehabilitation of around 14,000 people who were affected in earthquake in Kutch.

Taking to Twitter, CM Bhupendra Patel wrote, "After the (2001) earthquake, rehabilitation of the affected people was done on a very large scale. Hon'ble Shri Narendrabhai Modi also had a unique love for Kutch. Under his leadership and guidance, Kutch has come out of many difficulties and has become a pioneer in the development path."

The order to suspend him, that was issued by Manish Shah, deputy secretary in the urban development and urban housing development (UD&UHD) department, said, “On Saturday, 29-04-2023, an event of honourable Chief Minister was organised in Bhuj, the district headquarters of Kutch. Jigar Patel’s serious dereliction of duty and conduct during the said event prima facie exhibits his lack of commitment.”

“For this indiscipline and lapse of Jigar Patel, a reference is consideration for taking disciplinary action against him. For the same reason, it is deemed it will be not in the interest of public administration to allow him to continue in the service and therefore, he is put under suspension with immediate effect in exercise of Rule 5(1) (a) of the Gujarat Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1971,” the government order further stated.