Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Government today (Oct 23, 2004) recommended the dismissal of former Environment Secretary RK Sharma and withholding of the retirement benefits of former Chief Secretary DS Bagga for their alleged role in Rs 175 crore Taj heritage corridor scam.

The decisions were taken on the basis of the findings of a departmental inquiry ordered by the State Government earlier, official sources in Lucknow said.

Since both the officials belong to IAS (Indian Administrative Service) Cadre, the recommendations have been sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which would then seek the advice of the Union Government, the sources said.

The State Government is scheduled to present its 'action taken report' in the Supreme Court on Monday (Oct 25, 2004), Advocate General of the State, Virendra Bhatia said.

Sharma, who is under suspension, is said to be instrumental in clearing the project during the regime of BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) leader Mayawati.

"The Supreme Court had asked the State Government to submit its action taken report and the apex court will be apprised of the same on Monday," Bhatia said.

With regard to the two other officials, the then Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, PL Punia, and Tourism Secretary VK Gupta, Bhatia said the Government would seek further time from the apex court as inquiries against them were still on.

Bhatia said that dismissal of Sharma and withholding of pension and gratuity of Bagga were the proposed punishment which will be carried out only after the clearance from the UPSC.

The multi crore Taj heritage corridor project, a brainchild of the then Chief Minister Mayawati had come into light after a Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Supreme Court last year alleging large-scale irregularities in the project.

The Supreme Court later entrusted the CBI to inquiry into the scam.