HC stays engineer’s transfer

Vibha is the chairperson of Dibiyapur Nagar Panchayat and was allegedly irked with Kashyap as he had brought to light her alleged involvement in corrupt practices and abuse of power.

Hearing Kashyap’s petition,Justice Devi Prasad Singh not only stayed the transfer but directed the state government to look into Kashyap’s complaint. It ordered the superintendent of police/district magistrate of Auraiya to provide appropriate security/safeguard to the petitioner so that he could discharge his duty freely.

Kashyap had complained to the principal secretary that the “absconding chairman of Nagar Panchayat (Vibha Tiwari)” was not attending office and it was causing hardship in the functioning of the Nagar Panchayat,including the payment of salary to the staff. Following this,Auraiya district magistrate relieved Vibha of her responsibilities as the chairperson,including that of operating the salary account.

Later,when Vibha joined office after being released on bail,Kashyap again complained to the principal secretary alleging misappropriation of government fund and abuse of power by her. He also alleged that Vibha had illegally grabbed several documents. Later,Kashyap apprised the Kanpur commissioner of the alleged illegalities committed by her in convening the Nagar Panchayat’s Board meeting. Later,sensing a threat to his life,the petitioner wrote to the director general of police,Lucknow and the superintendent of police,Auraiya.

Though the state government had asked the district magistrate to look into Vibha’s alleged corrupt practices,Kashyap was transferred.

Through an application under the Right to Information Act,Kashyap came to know that he was transferred on Vibha’s complaint. He then moved the court. In its order,the court observed that it is unfortunate that instead of taking action against Vibha on the basis of the information communicated by the petitioner,the government chose to transfer Kashyap.