The Madhya Pradesh government has suspended a Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Dewas over a serious administrative lapse. The action followed the mention of a political controversy in an official government order. The issue links to the recent contaminated drinking water tragedy in Indore.
According to officials, Ujjain division revenue commissioner Ashish Singh issued the suspension order on Sunday. The order cited negligence, lack of seriousness, and irregular conduct in official duties. The SDM had issued an order on Saturday to deploy revenue staff for maintaining law and order during a Congress protest.
Senior officials said the SDM copied parts of a Congress memorandum word for word into the official order. The memorandum referred to a controversial remark made by cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya. Authorities viewed this act as a major breach of administrative neutrality.
The Congress memorandum criticised the BJP government over the Indore water contamination incident. It alleged that Vijayvargiya used the word “ghanta” while responding to a journalist’s question. The party called the remark insensitive and authoritarian. Congress had announced protests by ringing bells outside BJP leaders’ residences.
The protest followed deaths linked to contaminated water in Indore’s Bhagirathpura area. The administration has confirmed six deaths so far. Indore’s mayor claimed ten deaths, while locals allege the toll has reached sixteen, including a six-month-old child. The controversy continues to escalate across the state.
