Durga Shakti Nagpal, Indian Administrative Service officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre who had taken on sand mining mafia in Noida, has been granted central deputation and appointed as an officer on special duty (OSD) in the Union agriculture ministry.
The government has also relaxed eligibility condition of minimum five years of service for an IAS officer to serve on deputation.
In 2013, she had taken on illegal sand mining mafia in Gautam Buddh Nagar and was subsequently suspended by the UP government for allegedly demolishing a portion of a place of worship.
During her tenure as the sub-divisional magistrate of Gautam Budhh Nagar, she had cracked down on illegal sand dredging activities on Yamuna and Hindon river banks, by filing FIRs against the sand mining mafia, arresting them and confiscating their vehicles and machinery.
Her suspension, ostensibly under political pressure by the well connected sand mining mafia, had led members of the All India IAS Association to raise the issue before the central government.
The association also submitted a representation demanding the amendment of rules to clearly list a prior course of action for suspension of an IAS officer.
UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, however, had defended his government's action suspending the 2010 batch IAS officer. Her suspension was revoked in September 2013.
"She is a very good officer and wanted to go for deputation in the central government. She will make a name wherever she works," a UP IAS officer and her batch mate told.
