The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL challenging the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal by the Uttar Pradesh government, saying it won’t interfere in the matter as the advocate filing the petition had no locus standi. The court, however, said it would look into the matter if the IAS officer herself approached it.
“She will take care of herself. She can question her suspension at the right forum. The moment she approaches the court, we will hear her plea and we may pass an interim order,” a bench headed by Justice H.L. Dattu told petitioner M.L. Sharma, an advocate.
Ms Nagpal, a 2010-batch IAS officer, was suspended as Greater Noida subdivisional magistrate after she took action against illegal sand mining in the area. The UP government, however, said the suspension was over her demolishing a wall at an under-construction mosque that led to communal tension.
Mr Sharma had sought quashing of all proceedings against Ms Nagpal, 28, saying in ordering demolition of a mosque wall, she had followed the Supreme Court’s order to prevent unauthorised construction of religious buildings on public land and the court should protect her.