UP CM Moves To Sanitise Bureaucracy, Shows Door To Retired Officers Granted Extension By SP Government

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a move aimed at sanitising the state’s bureaucracy, has canceled re-employment of nearly 60 senior officers who were granted an extension by the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government, the Economic Times has reported.

According to the report, 76 officers were given extension by the previous government. Of them, at least 58 were removed from their posts on Saturday. Around 18 officers, also on an extension, have been allowed to keep their post as they are currently working on projects that require technical expertise and can’t be replaced.

“Some people were holding on to positions for a long time due to their closeness with the (previous) government. Earlier this week, many advisors and chairpersons of corporations were removed. It is good that a big clean-up is happening,” state chief secretary Rahul Bhatnagar said.

Those removed from office include urban development secretary S P Singh and Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation managing director A P Mishra. Both of these officers were close to the erstwhile SP government.

The Power Corporation managing director resigned soon after the first meeting held by Power Minister Shrikant Sharma where he asked the official to explain why the state had not signed the ‘Power For All’ agreement with the central government that could guarantee 24-hours electricity supply to the state.

The newly-appointed chief minister has also asked for bio-metric monitoring of attendance of state government employees.