UP: SDM suspended for issuing notice to Governor

Badaun (UP): A Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who issued notice to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel in a land acquisition case, has been suspended by the state government, a senior officer said on Thursday.
Notably, in a bizarre incident, the court of SDM (Judicial) Vineet Kumar issued a summons under the UP Revenue Code to the Governor on October 7, which reached the Governor House on October 10. In the summons, the governor was asked to appear before the SDM court on October 18 and present her side.
Reacting to this, Special Secretary in Governor’s Secretariat Badri Nath Singh wrote a letter to the District Magistrate (DM) Badaun on October 16, pointing out that no summons or notice could be issued against a person occupying a constitutional post. He lodged his protest while referring to it as a violation of Article 361 of the Constitution.
District Magistrate (DM) Manoj Kumar said he sent a report in this regard to the state government, after which SDM (Judicial) Vinit Kumar was suspended on Wednesday. He said the suspended officer has been charged with committing laxity and gross intelligence in the case.
The DM has also suspended Badan Singh, the reader of SDM Vineet Singh, on similar charges.