LUCKNOW: The

government in UP on Wednesday said that in pursuance of its 'zero tolerance' policy against corruption, it has given compulsory retirement to over 200 tainted officials and employees in the past two years while more than 400 others are under the scanner for 'exemplary punishment'.

The move has been initiated on the basis of a report of a screening committee formed in July 2017, soon after the BJP government came to power and Yogi ordered to identify officials and employees who have crossed 50 years of age and are involved in graft cases.

"The government has given forced retirement to 201 state employees. Many more are on the

," UP minister and government spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said, adding that 417 others are being watched and could get 'exemplary punishment'.

Sharma said all departments have been asked to prepare a list of officials facing corruption charges. "They too would be sent packing," he added.

Among those who have been given forced retirement, 51 are from the home department, 36 from revenue, eight from basic education, seven from dairy development and six from cane development. Besides, five employees each of urban development and excise departments and three of Khadi and village development board were also handed over retirement letters, said officials sources.

The government is also contemplating to stop promotion of tainted employees who are less than 50 years of age. "At the same time, inquiry against them would be expedited," Sharma said. Among those on the list for 'exemplary punishment', 170 employees are from energy department, 26 from basic education and 25 from

.

While the list of corrupt officials was ready, the action was fast-tracked when, around 10 days ago, Yogi started taking review meetings in Lucknow, Varanasi,

,

, Saharanpur and Moradabad about progress on various central and state government schemes. During these review meetings, he directed various district administrations to take quick action against officers identified as 'corrupt'.

A senior official told TOI that service records of employees and officials, mainly those who are 50 years or above, are being checked for making the list. "The officers and employees are being screened not only as per their service entries but also their reputation in department," said a senior IAS officer.