Kolkata, April 6 – Following the harassment of judicial officers in Kaliachak, a minority-dominated district in Malda, West Bengal, on the night of April 1, Additional District Magistrate (law and order), Shaikh Ansar Ahmad, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been issued a show-cause notice for serious dereliction of duty.
The show-cause notice, dated April 4, was issued by the Malda District Magistrate's office. Ahmad was asked to respond within seven days, after which the lack of a response would be considered an admission of negligence, and disciplinary proceedings would be initiated without further reference to him.
The notice explicitly stated that the ADM was specifically directed to maintain constant vigilance on the evolving situation in anticipation of law and order disturbances in the district, to ensure seamless coordination between civil, police, and administrative bodies.
The notice also reminded the ADM that he was specifically directed to visit the Kaliachak area between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on April 1 and maintain close and continuous contact with all relevant authorities to ensure effective field-level monitoring and prompt escalation of any deteriorating situation to the higher administration.
However, the show-cause notice stated that the ADM's physical presence in the field failed to adequately communicate the gravity of the situation to the higher authorities during the critical period between 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on April 1.
According to the notice, during this five-hour period, the higher administration lacked any input from the concerned ADM, thereby severely compromising the administration's ability to take timely preventive or remedial measures.
"Such a failure," the notice stated, "constitutes a serious dereliction of duty, a breach of trust, and is unbecoming of an IAS officer, potentially jeopardizing public order and rendering the higher administration unable to effectively discharge its responsibilities during a critical period."
"Furthermore," the show-cause notice said, "this conduct is prima facie in violation of Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, which enjoins every member of the service to maintain absolute devotion to duty, and is contrary to the basic responsibilities of an officer entrusted with law and order functions during a sensitive period."
