Haridwar land purchase case: Uttarakhand govt recommends dismissal of former Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary
Dehradun, June 20
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has taken stringent action in the Haridwar Municipal Corporation land purchase case under his government's "zero-tolerance" policy against corruption.
As per the Chief Minister's Office, in connection with the case, a recommendation has been made for the immediate dismissal from service of Varun Chaudhary, the then Municipal Commissioner of Haridwar Municipal Corporation. At the same time, former Haridwar District Magistrate Karmendra Singh has been found guilty of serious negligence in the discharge of his official duties and responsibilities, and a decision has been taken to impose a major penalty against him. Recommendations for action against both officers are being sent to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in accordance with the rules.
Additionally, directions have been issued to record an adverse entry in the service record of the then Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Ajayveer Singh, and to withhold three of his annual increments.
Notably, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had adopted a strict stance as soon as the Haridwar Municipal Corporation land purchase case came to light. Following indications of irregularities in the preliminary inquiry, several officials, including former District Magistrate Karmendra Singh and former Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary, were suspended. Subsequently, a detailed investigation and special audit were conducted to thoroughly examine the matter.
Chief Minister Dhami has made it clear that no compromise will be tolerated in cases of corruption at any level. He reiterated that transparency, accountability, and public interest remain paramount in governance and administration, and that the strictest possible action will continue to be taken against those found guilty.
The Dhami government's action is being regarded as one of the most significant administrative crackdowns on corruption in the state so far, sending a clear message that misuse of public funds and abuse of official position will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good that action is being taken, but why does it always take so long? The land was bought years ago, and only now are they recommending dismissal. Meanwhile, the taxpayers lost crores. 😡 Need faster investigations and stricter timelines for such cases.
This is what happens when you mess with public money. Municipal commissioners and DMs should know better - they took an oath to serve, not to loot. Dhami government is setting a strong example, but we need this across all states. Corruption in land deals is rampant everywhere. 👏
I appreciate the action against Varun Chaudhary, but what about the bigger fish? In such land deals, there are always builders and politicians involved behind the scenes. Suspending a few officers is good, but let's see if they investigate the real beneficiaries too. Otherwise, this becomes just a scapegoating exercise.
Haridwar is a holy city, and such corruption tarnishes its sanctity. 😔 Glad Dhami ji is taking strict action. The SDM getting three increments withheld is a bit lenient though - if negligence was serious, why not harsher punishment? Need consistency in penalties.
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