Govt. places Tobacco Board chief on compulsory wait

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved placing of Dr. K.Gopal, IAS (Tamil Nadu cadre 1992), the Chairman, Tobacco Board, Guntur, on compulsory wait in the Department of Personnel and Training with immediate effect and until further orders.

A government statement said that Dr. K.Gopal is relieved of his duties with effect from November 10, 2015 with directions to report to the Department of Personnel and Training.

Gopal was earlier asked to go on leave on September 16 this year after Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took exception to his absence when debt-ridden tobacco farmers were committing suicide in Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. Gopal had undertakn a controversial visit to Italy in the midst of the crisis, and the government felt that it showed a "lack of sensitivity to the farmers' issues" on his part.

The four-decade old Tobacco Board was set up under the Commerce and Industries ministry at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh to recognise the need to regulate production, promote overseas marketing and control recurring instances of imbalances in supply and demand, which lead to market problems.