Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has taken strong action by suspending two senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and one Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officer in connection with the Haridwar land scam, an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) confirmed.
A departmental inquiry will be initiated against the suspended officers.
So far, a total of 12 officers have been suspended, including District Magistrate Kamendra Singh, former Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudhary, and Sub Divisional Magistrate Ajayveer Singh, the statement added. The scam involves significant irregularities in land allocation and transfer processes.
These decisions by CM Dhami signal a decisive shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the state’s administration.
Earlier, on May 25, in a related effort to curb corruption, the Chief Minister instructed officials to intensify anti-corruption campaigns and submit detailed progress reports on cases related to illegal land conversion, according to an official release.
Further, CM Dhami directed that verification campaigns should continue without pause, stressing that “immediate and strict action should be taken upon receiving information about any suspicious activity or person.” He also emphasized that during the issuance of Aadhaar cards and other government documents, “it should be ensured that no document is issued without proper verification.”
Regarding property encroachments, the Chief Minister ordered officials to maintain the momentum of the ongoing anti-encroachment campaign and to ensure that cleared lands do not fall victim to renewed encroachments. CM Dhami has also instructed a detailed assessment of enemy property encroachments with a comprehensive report to be submitted.
In a review meeting, CM Dhami highlighted the importance of prioritizing local workers for government building construction projects while incorporating Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage and traditional mountain architectural styles into the designs.
Additionally, the Chief Minister called for strengthened security arrangements along border areas and the launch of intensive checking campaigns to ensure public safety and vigilance.