IAS officer's suspension: Centre awaits UP govt report

Amid growing demand for revoking the suspension of Indian Administrative Service officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, the Centre on Wednesday said it is awaiting a report from the Uttar Pradesh government based on which it will decide the future course of action.

"We are awaiting a report from Uttar Pradesh government. As per rules, state government needs to send a report (on suspension of an officer) to the Centre which is awaited," Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy told PTI.

He said the future course of action will depend on the UP administration's report.

"Unless we get a report or the officer sends us a representation, there is nothing we can do about it now," said the minister, in charge of Department of Personnel and Training -- a nodal department for personnel matters related to IAS officer.

Nagpal, a 2010 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, was suspended on July 27 ostensibly for ordering demolition of wall of a mosque without following the due process. Her suspension has evoked sharp reaction from opposition parties including BJP and BSP who alleged that she was removed over her action on sand mafia operating in Gautam Budh Nagar area of the state.

Nagpal, as sub-divisional magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, has cracked down on sand mafia active in that area.

According to Section (6A) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969, a detailed report has to be forwarded to the Centre within 15 days of suspension of an officer.

"Where an order of suspension is made, or deemed to have been made, by the government of a state under this rule, detailed report of the case shall be forwarded to the central government ordinarily within a period of 15 days of the date on which the member of the Service is suspended or is deemed to have been suspended, as the case may be," it says.

An aggrieved officer may alternatively appeal within a period of 45 days from the date of receiving the order of suspension, the rule says.

Nagpal, whose cadre was changed to Uttar Pradesh from Punjab in August last year, is presently attached to Board of Revenue in Lucknow.

Uttar Pradesh IAS association has rallied behind the officer and urged the state administration to revoke her suspension.

Image: Suspended IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal