Two BJP MLAs die of COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow (UP): Two BJP MLAs in Uttar Pradesh died of COVID-19 on Friday, party sources said here. Lucknow West MLA Suresh Kumar Srivastava (76) and Auraiya Sadar MLA Ramesh Chandra Diwakar (56) died of the viral disease in Lucknow and Meerut respectively.
Srivastava died during treatment at a Lucknow hospital. He was on ventilator support for the last few days, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the local MP, condoled the deaths of the lawmakers, terming it as a great loss to the party. Chief Minister Adityanath also condoled the deaths.
Diwakar was admitted at a hospital in Meerut four days ago. His condition was serious for the last two days, the sources said, adding that he died during treatment.
Adityanath said the news of Diwakar's death was "sad".
"May the departed soul rest in peace and the bereaved family find strength to bear the loss," he said in a tweet.
According to the sources, Diwakar's wife has also tested positive for COVID-19 and is undergoing treatment in Kanpur.
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Allahabad HC orders probe into 'reinstatement' of teacher in UP's Barabanki
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered a probe by the special task force (STF) into alleged irregularities in the rejoining of a teacher at City Intermediate College in Barabanki, observing that the reinstatement appeared to be prima facie illegal.
The court also directed the recovery of the salary paid to the teacher during the disputed period.
A bench of Justice Rajeev Singh passed the order on a petition filed by the college management committee. The court expressed doubts over the roles of the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Barabanki, the college principal and the teacher concerned and hence, directed a detailed inquiry into the matter.
Taking note of alleged manipulation of records and misleading submissions, the court ordered the immediate transfer of the Barabanki DIOS to ensure a fair probe. It also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the then joint director of education of the Ayodhya division.
In its order, the court found that the teacher, Abhay Kumar, was initially appointed as an assistant teacher in 2018 but joined an Eklavya Model Residential School in Chhattisgarh as a lecturer in June 2024 without obtaining permission from the management. His subsequent request to retain the lien was rejected.
Despite this, he was allowed to rejoin the Barabanki College in September 2025 on the directions of the joint director of education and the DIOS, and was even paid the salary for October 2025. The court termed the rejoining "wholly illegal" and lacking any legal basis.
The bench also expressed concern over lapses in communication within the education department and directed the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to ensure that official orders are communicated through email and WhatsApp as well, to prevent disputes.
The matter is next listed for hearing on May 28 when a compliance report is sought.
