Controversy over transfer order of government land worth ₹ 40 crore of Rampur: Name of former Commissioner IAS Anjaneya Kumar Singh in discussion, administration started investigation.

A case related to the transfer of valuable government land worth about ₹ 40 crore in the name of a private businessman in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh has sparked a new discussion in administrative and political circles. According to local media reports and information quoting administrative sources, this dispute is said to be related to a judicial/administrative order issued from the Moradabad Divisional Commissioner (Commissioner) Court in the year 2024. During that period, Senior Administrative Officer (IAS) Anjaneya Kumar Singh was posted as Commissioner of Moradabad Division, who had earlier been in the news at the national level due to the cases and administrative actions filed against senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan while being the District Magistrate (DM) of Rampur.

According to administrative records and local news, this entire episode came to light when the concerned businessman reached Rampur Collectorate with a copy of the Moradabad Commissioner Court order and applied to get his name registered in the revenue records (Bhulekh portal).

• Objection of revenue officials: When the local revenue officials of Rampur investigated the Gata number and the nature of the land concerned, they were shocked.

• Category of Public Use (Category-6 Land): Preliminary investigation of the revenue records revealed that the land for which the order was issued to transfer it to a private person was originally registered in the category of government and public use. Under the rules of Uttar Pradesh Revenue Code, such land can be used only for public purposes like pond, path/road, crematorium or cemetery and cannot be legally transferred to private ownership or sold.

It is noteworthy that 2005 batch IAS officer Anjaneya Kumar Singh of Sikkim cadre has returned to his parent cadre after being on deputation in Uttar Pradesh for a long time. According to the information received, he is currently serving as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in Sikkim Bhawan (Government of Sikkim), New Delhi.

On the other hand, Rampur District Administration and Revenue Department officials have taken vigilance in this matter citing the rules of protection of government property and have started a detailed legal review of the original documents of the land, old revenue settlements and the facts presented in the Commissioner Court. No official charge sheet or punitive action has been confirmed in this case yet from any investigating agency or government level, and official clarification from the concerned parties regarding the legal basis of this order is awaited.