SC directs UP to resume inquiry on Neera Yadav

New Delhi, Jan 15: The Supreme Court today directed the UttarPradesh government to resume the departmental inquiry against formerstate Chief Secretary Neera Yadav for her alleged involvement in Noidaland scam during her tenure as head of the Noida Development Authority.

A bench comprising Juctices Arijit Pasayat, C K Thakker andLokeshwar Singh Panta set aside the decision of the then Mayawatigovernment to drop the departmental inquiry against the seniorbureaucrat, who is currently holding the post of Chairperson of UttarPradesh Revenue Board.

CBI inquiry was ordered into the scam and Neera Yadav waschargesheeted for amassing wealth beyond her known sources of incomeunder the Prevention of Corruption Act.

During her tenure as Chairperson of Noida Development Authority,land was allotted to her family members, relatives of Mayawati and L KAdvani and to Samajwadi Party leaders. The scandal running into croresof rupees, came to light in 2002 following which allotment of land hadto be cancelled and she was removed from the post of the ChiefSecretary.

The court said that both criminal as well as departmentalproceedings can go side by side and their was no justification fordropping the departmental inquiry against her.

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