IPS transfer case: HC directs secretary home to decide on officer’s representation in 2 months

Nainital: The Uttarakhand high court (HC) on Tuesday directed the secretary home to decide on the representation by IPS officer Barinderjit Singh within two months and issue an order in this regard. The secretary has further been directed to give personal hearings to Singh as well as his three senior officers – DGP Ashok Kumar, former DGP Anil Raturi, and former DIG Kumaon Jagat Ram Joshi – before issuing orders.
The direction came from the bench of Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari white it was hearing the petition filed by Singh against his transfer from the post of SSP Udham Singh Nagar to commandant Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB). Following his transfer, Singh had approached the court alleging that his seniors were interfering in his investigations and that he was transferred only because he refused to give in to the pressure. His seniors – both serving and retired – have denied the allegations.
Singh told the court on Tuesday that he no longer wants to challenge the transfer order as almost six months have gone by and he has joined his new posting. But he said that his complaints should be listened to. Singh had made representations before the then DGP Anil Raturi. However, since Raturi has retired and his complaint was against then DG (law and order) – who is now the DGP – Singh said that his representation should now be decided by secretary home.
“The court has said that if an employee is aggrieved by the functioning of his superior officers, then his grievances should be addressed because if they are ignored it not only affects the person but even demoralises other members of the force. The court has, therefore, directed the secretary to decide on the representation and has granted Singh the liberty to approach the court again if the order issued affects him adversely,” said an advocate present in the hearing.