Tainted IAS officers get prize postings in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, July 25 (IANS) After declaring a fight against corruption, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has given "prize postings" to two IAS officers, who are facing alleged corruption charges in the Rs 300 crore National Highway -74 scam.

The two officers, Pankaj Pandey and Chandresh Yadav, were suspended last year in the highway corruption case.

As per a government notification, Pankaj Pandey has been given the post of Secretary, Medical Health and Family Welfare Department while Chandresh Yadav has become Additional Secretary, Urban Development in the latest bureaucratic reshuffle done on Wednesday. "These two officials have now suddenly become the favourites of the Chief Minister," commented a top government official.

Both the IAS officers were suspended last year in the highway scam involving the widening of the highway in Udham Singh Nagar district which stared during the previous Congress government. Nearly 20 officials have been suspended in the scam so far and some are already in jail.

However, the government revoked the suspension of these two officers quietly early this year even as the Chief Minister claimed repeatedly that he will not allow corrupt and incompetent officials to continue in the state government. He said all the incompetent and corrupt officials will be given compulsory retirement.

The Congress has criticised the government for giving senior postings to the two officers. State Congress Vice President Surya Kant Dhasmana said, "It is now evident that government's claims to fight corruption are hollow. The two officers were involved in the scam and it is unfortunate that this has been done."

The Congress has also attacked the government for failing to pass the Lokayukta bill which the state government has sent to the select committee of the Assembly.