SC dismisses plea on Durga Shakti's suspension

The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against the Uttar Pradesh government for suspending IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal.

Nagpal was suspended last month ostensibly for demolishing the wall of a mosque in Gautam Budh Nagar, an action the state government said could have triggered communal tension. She was placed under suspension July 27 and issued a charge-sheet on Aug 4.

An apex court bench headed by Justice H.L. Dattu, while dismissing the public interest litigation, asked how the state government's action amounted to contempt of court.

The court said if the state government had issued the orders putting curbs on removing illegal structures from public places then, per se, it would have amounted to contempt of court.

Petitioner M.L. Sharma, an advocate, had filed the petition saying the action of the state government amounted to contempt of court as it was contrary to the Sep 29, 2009 order of the apex court.

The court in its September 2009 directed collectors and officers in all states that no unauthorised construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of temple, church, mosque or gurdwara, on public streets, public parks or other public places.