'Credibility of IAS officers has gone down due to Durga Nagpal': Ahmed Hasan

Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Ahmed Hasan on Tuesday joined the debate over the suspension of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, saying that her actions of last month had affected the credibility of the service.

"Due to Durga Shakti Nagpal, the credibility of IAS officers has gone down," he told media here today while justifying the ruling Samajwadi Party's stand to chargesheet Nagpal and to inform the Central Government that it will be taking further disciplinary action against the officer if the situation demands.

Meanwhile, the Waqf Board, which manages dedication of any moveable or immoveable property for religious purpose, said that they had no knowledge about who gave the statement on the controversy surrounding the alleged mosque wall demolition case.

"I want to clarify that the Waqf Board has not given any statement and the named person has no relation with Waqf Board. He is some member in a committee responsible for some management. See, we have around 150,000 registered Waqfs and around 15,00,000 people are related to its management, there must be around 10 persons in each committee," Zufar Ahmad Farooqui, the chief of Waqf Board, said.

"Out of the 15, 00,000 any person who stands and gives a statement would not be considered as a statement from Waqf Board," he added.

It was earlier reported that the UP Wakf Board has extended full support to Nagpal, and demanded the Uttar Pradesh Government to reinstate her on the ground that she had no role in bringing down the wall of mosque in Greater Noida.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has maintained his stand on the suspension and defended the order on Monday.

"If an official makes a mistake then the government punishes the official. This is the way government works," Yadav said.

A copy of the chargesheet along with a report has been sent to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) at the Centre. The Samajwadi Party Government's 10-page chargesheet accuses Nagpal of violating norms while ordering the demolition of the wall of a mosque built illegally on government land at Gautam Budh Nagar in Greater Noida.

Durga Shakti Nagpal was suspended ostensibly for taking on the sand mafia and a charge-sheet was issued to her 'for ordering the demolition of a wall of a mosque that was being built on government land' in the state's Gautam Buddh Nagar District, where she was posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate.