A sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district was suspended on charges of gross misconduct just hours after he signed an official order that put the death toll from the Indore water contamination incident at 14 and described a senior state minister's comments on the tragedy as "inhuman".
The Controversial Order That Went Viral
The incident unfolded on Sunday when SDM Anand Malviya signed an order in response to a request from the Dewas district Congress committee. The Congress had sought permission to hold a protest rally concerning the deaths in Indore's Bhagirathpura area, which were allegedly caused by contaminated water supply.
In the body of the order, before detailing the administrative arrangements for the proposed protest, Malviya wrote, "As many as 14 people have died after consuming water supplied by the BJP-governed municipal corporation and 2,800 have fallen ill." He further stated, "The indecent comment, using the word 'ghanta,' by state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya is a sign of inhuman nature and autocracy."
The order mentioned that, on the instructions of Congress state president Jitu Patwari, strong protests featuring the chiming of bells would be held against this "inhuman behaviour" outside the homes of MPs and MLAs. This document quickly went viral on Monday, triggering a significant uproar in the state's political and administrative circles.
Immediate Suspension for "Gross Misconduct"
Acting swiftly, Ujjain divisional commissioner Asheesh Singh issued a suspension order against Anand Malviya. The order cited "gross misconduct and indiscipline" and "dereliction of duty in signing an order without properly vetting it."
Commissioner Singh's suspension directive stated, "Malviya has been suspended with immediate effect. During his suspension, he would be posted at the divisional commissioner's office in Ujjain." The commissioner accused Malviya of failing to verify the claimed death toll or the nature of the problem before allowing the Congress party's allegations to be printed as part of an official government order.
Notably, the suspension order signed by Singh did not make any reference to the SDM's critical comments about Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya. The action was framed solely around procedural lapses and the inclusion of unverified claims.
Fallout and Key Questions
This episode has cast a spotlight on the severe public health issue of water contamination in Indore and the intense political blame game that has followed. The suspension raises several pertinent questions about administrative autonomy and the verification process for facts mentioned in procedural orders.
The core facts remain centered on a tragic incident in Bhagirathpura, a controversial order that quantified the casualties and criticized a minister's response, and the subsequent disciplinary action against the officer who authored it. The situation underscores the sensitive intersection of public health administration and political accountability in the state.
