Lucknow:
The Supreme Court today refused to interfere in the case of IAS Officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, whose suspension by the Uttar Pradesh government last month led to widespread outrage across the country.
"She will take care of herself, she can question her suspension at the right forum," the court told petitioner ML Sharma, who had argued that she was penalised for following the Supreme Court's own orders.
The IAS officer was suspended on July 27 for ordering the demolition of a mosque being built illegally on government land. The Supreme Court had mandated IAS officers to order the demolition of such structures.
The Supreme Court today said it could consider a petition if Ms Nagpal herself approached the court.
The 28-year-old officer may respond for the first time today to the Uttar Pradesh government's charges against her.
The Akhilesh Yadav government asked her to respond to a chargesheet that accused her of "poor administrative acumen and lack of foresight" for a decision that could cause communal tension in the holy month of Ramzan.
Mr Nagpal was given a 15-day deadline that ends on Sunday, but sources say she may file her reply today as it is the last working day before that. She can also seek an extension.
In the face of protests and outrage, the Samajwadi Party has defied calls to reconsider her case, even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was looking into it and "rules will be followed".
The prime minister had been asked by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to ensure that the officer was not treated unfairly.
Two days ago, the Uttar Pradesh government also transferred Ms Nagpal's husband Abhishek Singh, a Noida officer who has been now posted in Jhansi. State government officials said it was a routine transfer as he was among 16 officers from his batch who have been posted as Joint Magistrates across the state.