The controversy surrounding allegations that senior IAS officer and Devipatan Divisional Commissioner Durga Shakti Nagpal attempted to exert pressure on a civil judge intensified on Monday, with civil society members demanding a high-level probe by the Uttar Pradesh government.

The demand comes after the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench on Friday took serious exception to the allegation.

The Gonda civil judge, in a letter to the district judge, earlier alleged that she received repeated phone calls while on leave on July 15 from a number linked to the Devipatan Division Commissioner’s office, headquartered in Gonda. According to her, Ms. Nagpal, who wanted to discuss a long-pending land dispute, asked pointed questions about how long the judge intended to stay on leave. She also said the “phone calls and the tone used amounted to interference”.

The High Court observed that the pressure prima facie exerted by Ms. Nagpal “struck at the independence of the judiciary and obstructed the administration of justice”.

Ms. Nagpal, however, said she had not tried to discuss the merits of the case and had only sought to know when the judge would resume hearing the matter.

Justice Syed Qamar Hasan Rizvi held that the allegations could not simply be ignored, and directed that the matter be placed before the appropriate Bench dealing with criminal contempt. Justice Rizvi noted that the tone of the alleged conversation showed the judge was being pressured. The court directed that the matter be placed before the appropriate Bench after seeking directions from the Chief Justice or the senior judge.

“I have sent a letter to the Chief Secretary demanding the transfer of Durga Shakti Nagpal and an independent inquiry,” activist Amitabh Thakur said. He has also demanded clear protocols to be issued regarding officials contacting judicial officers over pending cases.