Hours after the Supreme Court gave the UP government a week’s time to remove Neera Yadav from the post of Chief Secretary, the controversial officer was shifted to the less significant post of Chairman, Revenue Board. Principal Secretary, Urban Development and Employment, R Ramani has been given additional charge of Chief Secretary, an official release said. Senior IAS officer Ravi Mathur, who has been replaced by Yadav, has not been given any assignment, the release said. He is believed to be in the race for the post of Chief Secretary. Before Neera Yadav was transferred, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said: ‘‘The UP government has always honoured court decisions and would do the same this time too,’’ he said. The SC bench of Justice Arijit Pasayat, Justice Ruma Pal and Justice C K Thakker gave the interim order to move Neera Yadav on an application by the Centre for PIL, seeking a stay on her functioning as Chief Secretary. Yadav was made Chief Secretary last April 30. The order, however, said allegations against Yadav were yet to be established and made it clear it did not intend to deal with the merits of the matter. It directed the Allahabad HC, where a revision petition filed by her is pending, to dispose it off in three months. The court said ‘‘a time has come when the postings of officers holding sensitive posts should be done in transparent manner giving no scope for any grievance. In the peculiar background of facts, it was really desirable for the state government to steer clear of controversy and not to post Neera Yadav as the Chief Secretary. By doing it, it has unnecessarily created further complications and invited criticism.’’ RELATAD STORY
