Union Minister Jual Oram asks Odisha Chief Secretary to take action against IAS officer Parag Harshad Gavali

Bhubaneswar: Union Tribal Minister Jual Oram today directed Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja to take disciplinary proceedings against 2013-batch IAS officer Parag Harshad Gavali for unauthorized absence from duty.

Union Tribal Minister sought disciplinary proceedings against Parag Gavali, his Private Secretary, as he has been absent from his duty without authorization since January 23, 2025.

“I am writing to inform you that Dr. Parag Gavali has been absent from duty without authorization since 23rd January 2025. His continued unauthorized absence is in violation of the service rules and has caused disruptions in the functioning of the office. In light of the above, I have requested Secretary DoPT to initiate appropriate disciplinary action against Dr. Parag Harshad Gavali as per the relevant provisions of the All-India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules,” Oram wrote to Ahuja.

“I formally request you to update records in the personal file of Dr. Parag Harshad Gavali, IAS (RR: 2013-OD), presently posted as my Private Secretary,” he added.

It is to be noted here that Harshad, who was serving as the Collector of Sundargarh district since June 2022 was appointed as the Private Secretary to the Union Minister by the Centre in July 2024 for a period of five years. Prior to this, Harshad was posted as the Kalahandi Collector,