Controversial Officials to Join Fire Department? Dismissed Officers Apply for CFO & Other Posts

After the Rajkot fire incident, recruitment is underway in the fire department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. A total of 53 applications have been received for four positions, including Chief Fire Officer, Additional Chief Fire Officer, and two Deputy Fire Officers. Some officers currently serving in the fire department and involved in controversies have also applied for the positions, ranging from Chief Fire Officer to other officer roles. Former Divisional Fire Officer Manish Modh, who was involved in a controversy over demanding bribes for Fire NOC, has applied for the Chief Fire Officer position. After a vigilance investigation, Manish Modh was dismissed from service. Additionally, three other controversial officers have also applied.

Manish Modh Dismissed from Service Due to Bribery Case

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has announced the recruitment for the highest position in the fire department, the Chief Fire Officer. Manish Modh, who has served as a fire department officer in both Ahmedabad and Vadodara Municipal Corporations, has been repeatedly involved in controversies. A private sting operation revealed that he was taking bribes for Fire NOC near a private school in Ahmedabad. Following this, he was suspended, and a vigilance investigation was initiated. The Municipal Commissioner found him guilty and ordered his dismissal from service.

Vigilance Investigation Ongoing Against Two Officers

Officers serving in the Ahmedabad Fire Brigade Department are also under vigilance investigation and involved in controversies. Three such officers have applied for various positions, including Chief Fire Officer. Acting Chief Fire Officer Jayesh Khadiya faced controversy for issuing an NOC outside Ahmedabad limits and ordering the release of an officer. Divisional Officers Om Jadeja and Inayat Sheikh are both under vigilance investigation for allegedly obtaining jobs based on fake sponsorships and false evidence. A final show-cause notice has been issued to them, asking why they should not be dismissed from service. It has been 15 days since the notice was issued, and the Commissioner is now expected to decide on their dismissal. Despite this, these officers have applied for higher positions in the fire brigade, raising questions about whether the Commissioner will proceed with the recruitment.

Recruitment Announcement for 119 Positions

For over a year, the fire brigade officers have been working in acting positions. A recruitment announcement has now been made for 119 positions, including permanent positions for Chief Fire Officer, Additional Chief Fire Officer, Deputy Fire Officer, Assistant Station Officer, Assistant Sub-Officer, and Assistant Fireman. The document verification process for all applicants has been completed. According to sources, the recruitment process for Chief Fire Officer, Additional Chief Fire Officer, and two Deputy Chief Fire Officers will be completed before August 30.

Positions Vacant for Over a Year

After the retirement of M. F. Dastur as Chief Fire Officer in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s fire department, the positions of Chief Fire Officer and Additional Chief Fire Officer have been vacant for over a year. Following the Rajkot fire incident, complaints were raised about the lack of adequate staff in the fire brigade, leading to delays in fire safety checks and other operations. In response, the state government instructed all municipal corporations to conduct recruitment. Consequently, the Municipal Commissioner has now announced the recruitment of permanent officers and staff in the fire brigade.

Recruitment for Chief Fire and Additional Chief Fire Officers

Recruitment will take place for Chief Fire Officer and Additional Chief Fire Officer positions. Applicants must have a degree from the Institute of Fire Engineers, England, or the Institute of Fire Engineers, India, or an advanced diploma from the National Fire Service College, Nagpur. They should have passed the Divisional Officers course from the National Fire Service College, Nagpur. If they have served in the corporation, they should have five years of experience and should not have held a position lower than Deputy Chief Fire Officer. Eight years of experience in a position lower than Second-Class Officer is also required.

Applications from Officers in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Gandhinagar, and Bharuch

There are four positions available: Chief Fire Officer, Additional Chief Fire Officer, and two Deputy Chief Fire Officers. Additionally, there are three Assistant Station Officer, ten Assistant Sub-Officer, and 102 Assistant Fireman positions to be filled. Officers and employees currently serving as Chief Fire Officer, Additional Chief Fire Officer, and Divisional Fire Officer in Ahmedabad Fire Brigade have applied for these permanent positions. Some of these officers are still under vigilance investigation. Officers from Vadodara, Gandhinagar, and Bharuch have also applied.

Applicants from Ahmedabad

• Manish Modh (Former Divisional Fire Officer)
• Jayesh Khadiya (Acting Chief Fire Officer)
• Om Jadeja (Divisional Fire Officer)
• Inayat Sheikh (Divisional Fire Officer)
• Mithun Mistry (Acting Additional Chief Fire Officer)
• Swastik Jadeja (Divisional Fire Officer)
• Pankajkumar Rawal (Fire Station Officer)
• Naitik Bhatt (Fire Station Officer)
• Rameshpuri Goswami (Fire Station Officer)