Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi' has accused sections of the state bureaucracy of acting against the interests of the government and obstructing policy implementation. In a strongly-worded letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the minister alleged that officials in his department are ignoring ministerial directions, violating established rules, and even facilitating undue benefits to select individuals—while stalling key government initiatives.
Nandi claimed that bureaucrats are not only defying orders but also unilaterally approving policy proposals without proper clearances. “These officials are not working in the government's favour. Instead, they are blocking development work, manipulating files, and bypassing rules to benefit certain people,” he wrote.
The minister’s letter has prompted the Chief Minister’s Office to order a high-level probe. A detailed report on the allegations has been sought, and sources confirmed that top bureaucrats are preparing formal replies to defend their actions.
Missing Files, Ignored Orders
In his letter, Nandi highlighted several cases where files were deliberately withheld despite repeated reminders over two years. “Why were the files not sent even after multiple requests? A former officer admitted that senior officials had instructed not to share them,” he wrote.
He added that on October 7 last year, he had forwarded a list of pending files to the CM’s Office. Although the CM’s office issued instructions on October 29 to produce the documents within a week, the files remain unsubmitted even after six months.
He also pointed to an earlier case where directions were issued—three years ago—for reallocation of departmental responsibilities at a competent level, but the file pertaining to that directive has since gone missing.
Rules Bypassed, Unequal Treatment
The minister further alleged that bureaucrats have selectively approved proposals that go against policy norms to favour certain individuals. “In identical cases, some were given approvals while others were rejected without reason. This kind of selective approach is undermining the credibility of the government,” Nandi wrote.
He cited one such instance where the Allahabad High Court had made strong remarks, leading to the removal of a senior official involved in the case.
With the Chief Minister now directly involved and seeking explanations, the letter has sparked unease in administrative circles. The minister’s move has brought to light deepening friction between the political executive and the bureaucracy, raising serious concerns over governance, accountability, and coordination within the state government.
