Social activist Nutan Thakur prayed before lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court to take congnizance of suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagal just as the Allahabad Bench took cognizance in a transfer order served to divisional commissioner of Allahabad, who too took action against sand mining mafias about two months back.
In her application, Thakur has prayed that IAS officer Himanshu Kumar, posted as Allahabad Commissioner on 07 June was transferred within two days on 09 June, for having taken strong action against sand mafia. In a PIl filed by PUCl against this transfer, the Allahabad Bench observed that if transfer has taken place due to unholy nexus between sand mining Mafias and high officers in the State and because of an officer trying to check large scale extraction of natural resources in an illegal and unauthorized manner, the Court cannot sit silent.
Thakur claimed that the Court ordered Anita Singh, Secretary to the Chief Minister, to be present on the next date of hearing along with complete documents related with the transfer. The State Government filed an SlP against this order, but the Supreme Court did not stay the High Court proceedings. Thakur citing the above has requested the lucknow Bench to take up Durga Shakti suspension matter on the similar grounds. It may be mentioned that in the last hearing in PIl filed by social activist Nutan Thakur, Justice Devi Prasad Singh and Justice Ashok Pal Singh had said that any further action as regards suspension shall of Durga Shakti Nagpal be taken only on the affected party’s petition.