This refers to the report, “Noida rises against Durga persecution” (July 30). It is apparent that honest, hard-working and diligent civil servants are anathema to the political class. Upright IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal's suspension lends credence to this belief.
Clearly, the young civil servant is being punished for taking on the notorious sand mafia in Noida. Ironically, her fight is not just with these lawbreakers but to a large extent also with the lawmakers, many of whom have demeaned their office by compromising with the mafia.
Civil servants may be answerable to political authorities but they owe allegiance to the rule of the law. They are not supposed to protect political interests. If the Government itself victimises honest officers and gives them a crown of thorns as reward for their diligence and honesty, then it indicates an erosion of values and a failure of our democratic system. The Akhilesh Yadav Government has shown its priorities by penalising an honest officer. It is heartening that the entire country and the IAS lobby are standing by Ms Nagpal. The State Government must revoke her suspension.