SC directs UP govt to transfer Neera Yadav

The Supreme Court today directed the Uttar Pradesh government to transfer Neera Yadav from the post of chief secretary of the state within seven days. The apex court passed this interim order as she was involved in a number of scams, especially in the Noida land deals.

A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Ruma Pal said, "A time has come when the posting of officers holding sensitive posts should be done in a transparent manner giving no scope for any grievance."

It was true, the order said, that grievances could be made with ulterior motive or with the intention of damaging the reputation of a person who was likely to be appointed to a sensitive post, very often at the behest of those angling for the post.

In such a situation, it was desirable for the state government to steer clear of controversy, the court said. In this case, Yadav should not have been posted as chief secretary, it added.

The court was dealing with a public interest petition (PIL) moved by the Centre for PIL against the chief secretary who was involved in a "maze of factual controversies".

The CBI and a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court had conducted an enquiry into the scam. The CBI has also filed a chargesheet after obtaining sanction from the central government.

At present, a retired judge of the Supreme Court is looking into certain aspects of the suspicious deals. In this context, she should not have been appointed to the top post on April 30 this year, the petitioner argued.

This found acceptance by the Supreme Court. In the main petition, one of the questions raised was her suitability to be included in the cadre itself.

The court postponed its finding on that question and did not express any opinion on the allegations, pending before the high court and the Justice Thomas Commission.

The state government had opposed the PIL saying the IAS officer had been in the post for five months and the court should not pass any order till the commission gave its report.

However, the court rejected the submission saying. "Had this consideration weighed with the state government when it made the appointment there may not have been any difficulty," it said.

Refusing to comment on the Supreme Court verdict against her appointment, Yadav said the matter concerned the state government, which was the respondent in the case.

Acting swiftly on the Supreme Court directive, the UP government removed the chief secretary and shifted her to the less significant post of chairman of the revenue board. R Ramani, principal secretary, urban development and employment, had been given additional charge of the state chief secretary, an official release said.

Senior IAS officer Ravi Mathur, who had been replaced by Neera Yadav, had not been given any assignment, the release said. He is believed to be in the race for the post of chief secretary.