K Mehrotra on Tuesday recommended dismissal of UP minister for dairy
and animal husbandry Awadhpal Singh Yadav after finding him guilty of
largescale corruption and misuse of office for extending favour to his
kin. This is the state’s first case where dismissal has been recommended
on charges of corruption by the Lokayukta.
"The conduct of Awadhpal Singh Yadav is highly mischievous and not in
accordance with the oath taken by him under the Constitution for his
ministerial office," the Lokayukta said in his report prepared after a
sustained inquiry into charges of corruption against the minister during
the last five months. The Lokayukta recommended to chief minister
Mayawati that the minister should be dismissed forthwith without wasting
any time.
The minister is also accused in a case of triple murder in which the
court had only recently ordered the police to file a case against him.
The Lokayukta has also recommended stern action against Eath SSP Laxami
Narain, circle officer and a police inspector for giving misleading
information about the minister’s conduct.
This is besides the action recommended against the lekhpal and tehsildar
for fudging revenue records in order to grant the minister illegal
possession of gram samaj land and summary transfer of the Eath DM and
his subordinates, including SDM and tehsildar, for their inaction in
checking the land-grabbing by the minister.
Further, holding the minister guilty of land-grabbing, the Lokayukta has
recommended that cases should be filed against him under Section 13 of
the Prevention of Corruption Act for misusing his office to favour his
near and dear ones and under Section 122B of the UP ZALR Act for illegal
possession of gram samaj land. Recovery of compensation from the
minister has also been ordered.
When asked about the fate of his recommendation, the Lokayukta said: "I
have done my job and I am sure that chief minister will certainly take
note of the recommendation." Legally, Lokayukta’s recommendations are
advisory, though they carry the force of the Constitution.