Delay in Government Inquiry No Bar on Promotion The Central Administrative Tribunal asked Tamil Nadu government to consider promoting an Indian Forest Officer to rank of Chief Conservator of Forests, observing that an officer could not be penalised for inordinate delay on the part of government in completing disciplinary inquiries against him. IFS officer Ramachandra Pati joined as Assistant Conservator of Forests in 1985. He was promoted to Conservator of Forests in 2004. He became eligible for promotion to Chief Conservator of Forests in 2010. However, disciplinary proceedings for his alleged shortfall in performance under Tamil Nadu Afforestation Programme were initiated in 2005 and 2006, said Pati in his petition. These proceedings were not completed after a lapse of around five years. In his current petition Pati pleaded that inquiry report be opened and government act on the recommendations. Countering his arguments, the government said the delay was because of Pati’s refus...