Consider suspending two former Rampur DMs: HC to state govt

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad high court has directed the state government to consider suspending Rakesh Kumar Singh and Rajeev Rautela, former district magistrates (DMs) of Rampur, in connection with a case of illegal mining.

Singh is at present DM of Kanpur Dehat and Rautela is Gorakhpur DM. The court has also directed disciplinary proceedings against the two.

The officers were involved in granting storage licence to one Gulam Hussain alias Nanhe, which he got on July 16, 2016, despite the court noting in an order on August 24, 2015, that Hussain was involved in illegal mining from river Kosi in Rampur. The court also ordered the chief secretary to ensure that the inquiry, as directed in its August 24, 2015 order, is concluded within a month to identify other officials, both in district and police administrations, who were responsible for dereliction of duty, resulting in illegal mining by the Nanhe.

The court said that based on the inquiry, the state government should initiate disciplinary action against the erring officials. The court bench, comprising chief justice DB Bhosale and justice MK Gupta, passed the above order while hearing a petition by one Maqsood, who complained of illegal mining by Hussain. The complainant alleged that some government officials were conniving with Hussain, who was involved in illegal mining even though he had a licence to only store sand. The court has fixed January 16 as next date of hearing.

RAKESH KUMAR SINGH IS AT PRESENT DM OF KANPUR DEHAT AND RAJEEV RAUTELA IS GORAKHPUR DM