Union Minister Jual Oram seeks action against Odisha cadre IAS officer

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram has requested disciplinary action against his Private Secretary, Parag Harshad Gavali, a 2013-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre. Oram wrote to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, citing Gavali's unauthorized absence from duty.

The minister also sent a letter to Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja seeking action against Gavali. The specific allegations against Parag Harshad Gavali include unauthorized absence from duty and potential misconduct. While the exact nature of the absence is not detailed in the available information, it appears to be a serious enough infraction to warrant the minister's direct intervention.

This incident is not isolated and reflects broader issues of accountability within the Indian civil service. In recent years, several IAS officers have faced disciplinary actions or investigations. For instance, in December 2024, senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi was shifted from key positions and placed as officer-on-special duty in the General Administration and Public Grievance department following a CBI investigation into a bribery scandal.

The Indian Administrative Service has a history of both exemplary service and controversial incidents. More recently, in January 2025, an unnamed Odisha IAS officer was convicted for the 11th time in a corruption case, highlighting persistent issues of integrity within the service.

The action sought against Parag Harshad Gavali may lead to broader discussions on civil service reforms. The incident could prompt a review of the mechanisms for addressing misconduct and the relationship between political appointees and career bureaucrats.

It may also reignite debates on the need for more robust accountability measures within the IAS, potentially leading to policy changes or enhanced training programs to prevent similar incidents in the future.