M A I N   N E W S

UP Govt for sack of IAS officer in Taj corridor case
Tribune News Service & Agencies

Lucknow, October 23
The Uttar Pradesh Government today recommended the dismissal of former Environment Secretary R.K. Sharma and withholding of the retirement benefits of former Chief Secretary D.S. Bagga for their alleged role in the Rs 175 crore Taj heritage corridor scam.

The decisions were taken on the basis of the findings of a departmental inquiry ordered by the state government earlier, official sources here said.

Since both officials belong to IAS cadre, the recommendations have been sent to the Union Public Service Commission which would then seek the advice of the Union Government, the sources said.

The state government is scheduled to present its ‘action taken report’ in the Supreme Court on Monday, Advocate-General of the state Virendra Bhatia said.

With regard to the two other officials, the then Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, P.L. Punia, and Tourism Secretary V.K. Gupta, Bhatia said the government would seek further time from the apex court as inquiries against them were still on.

These officers along with the then Principal Secretary to Chief Minister P. L. Punia and R.K. Sharma’s successor at the Department of Environment Mr V K Gupta had been first suspended on September 25, 2003 following the issuing of FIRs against them on September 18, 2003, in the Taj corridor case.

But these officers had to be reinstated earlier this year when the Supreme Court clarified that Central Government officers could not be suspended for more than 90 days without charges being framed against them.