UP drops charges against former Noida DM BN Singh
The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday dropped disciplinary proceedings against 2009 batch IAS officer Brajesh Narain Singh, the former district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, who was charged with alleged negligence in Covid-19 management in the district.
He was attached to the board of revenue on March 30, 2020 after chief minister Yogi Adityanath presided over a review meeting on the Covid-19 situation in the district and ordered Singh’s suspension.
On March 30, 2020, the state government had transferred the then district magistrate, who had sought three months’ paid leave on personal grounds, after the CM expressed his displeasure over the surge in Covid-19 cases in the district.
The UP government had started a department inquiry against BN Singh for violation of the service code of conduct by making his leave application public on social media, and talking to the press after the CM’S meeting in Noida.
Subsequently, the state government had on August 28, 2020 filed a charge sheet against Singh over alleged negligence in handling the Covid-19 situation in GB Nagar. Singh on September 27 filed his reply against the charge sheet. The principal secretary, health, and the medical education department of UP gave its view on the issue on February 5, 2021, while the principal secretary, health, and the medical education department submitted its view on March 26, 2021 on the issue.
The state principal secretary for health and medical education decided to drop the disciplinary proceedings and charges. “The UP governor has ordered the dropping of disciplinary proceedings against IAS BN Singh under Section 8 of the Indian Services (discipline and appeal) Act, 1969,” said Sanjay Kumar Singh, special secretary for the government, UP, in a written order.
The former DM, meanwhile, said he is thankful to the state government for dropping the charges.
“I am thankful to the government from the core of my heart for doing justice to me by deciding to drop the charges on handling of Covid-19 during my collectorship in Gautam Buddh Nagar at the preliminary stage itself. The fairness, objectivity and professionalism followed by everyone who examined and decided on my representation to the chargesheet at every stage was just outstanding,” said BN Singh after recovering the order.
“I am also really grateful to everyone in the society who, through their faith in me and good wishes, stood by me during these times. God bless the society at this critical time which Sartre would have termed as an Existential Crisis,” said Singh.