MHA orders punishment! IAS couple transferred to Ladakh, Arunachal over misuse of Thyagraj Stadium
The fact that the stadium was closed for sports activities earlier than usual so that the IAS couple could take a stroll with his dog at the facility triggered widespread criticism and demands for strict action against the high-powered officials.
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New Delhi, May 27: After massive outrage over reports that an IAS couple was misusing a government-run stadium in Delhi to walk their dog, the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered a punishment for them. It has instructed that the bureaucrat and his wife be transferred to Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh respectively.
What is this matter?
Reports had started to surface on social media claiming that the IAS couple - Sanjeev Khirwar and his wife Rinku Dugga - had started to misuse the Delhi government-run Thyagraj Stadium for walking their dog. For this purpose, athletes training there were forced to finish practice earlier than usual.
A photo had gone viral in which the IAS couple are seen walking their dog on a race track inside the stadium. Athletes alleged that they were told to clear out of the stadium by 7 pm, as the bureaucrats walked their pet pupper after that. This incident had triggered widespread criticism and demands of strict action against the high-powered officials.
In a swift action, the MHA ordered punishment transfer after Delhi Chief Secretary submitted a report to it in the evening on the factual position of the news report.
A 1994-batch IAS officer Khirwar was posted in Delhi as the Principal Secretary (Revenue) and the Divisional Commissioner. District Magistrates and Sub-Divisional Magistrates report to the Divisional Commissioner. He also held additional charge of the Environment Secretary in the Delhi government.
Khirwar served as the Private Secretary to the Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath between 2009 and 2014. He was then posted in the Commerce ministry and was transferred to Delhi in 2018 as the Secretary, of Health and Family Welfare. Over the past few years, he has been posted in the environment, general administration and revenue departments.