Former US Nagar SSP alleges harassment by seniors, moves HC against transfer

Rudrapur: The former senior superintendent of police (SSP) of

Udham Singh Nagar

, Barinderjit

Singh

has moved the high court of Uttarakhand, challenging his transfer from the post, and alleging harassment by senior police officials of the state.

Singh, a 2008-batch IPS officer, was transferred as Commandant of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) to Ramnagar on July 10. He had been holding the post of SSP of Udham Singh Nagar for almost one-and-a-half years.

In his plea, Singh stated that the transfer was “arbitrary and malafide” and was done “solely with the purpose and intent to victimise” him. He alleged that during his tenure, he carried out fair and impartial investigations in several sensitive matters “despite being stopped by Director General of Police (DGP) Anil Raturi”. He has also accused DGP (law and order) Ashok Kumar and former inspector general (IG) of Kumaon, Jagat Ram Joshi of harassment.

He added that as the district’s apex officer, he discharged his duties fairly and that there is “a deliberate attempt to demoralise” him and that is why, he has been transferred eight times in just a decade of his service.

Hearing the plea, the double bench of acting Chief Justice Ravi Kumar Malimath and Justice NS Dhanik issued notices to DGP Raturi, DGP (law and order) Kumar, and IG Joshi. All of them have been asked to submit their responses by August 20.

The next hearing of the matter has been scheduled on August 21.