‘Indicted’ in quota violence, ex-DGP Singhal front-runner for CIC’s post

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 20

Former Haryana DGP Yashpal Sinhgal, who was ‘indicted’ by a committee headed by former Uttar Pradesh DGP Prakash Singh formed to fix official responsibility for the administration’s failure to control violence during the 2016 violent Jat agitation, is the front-runner for the post of Haryana’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). He retired as DGP (Prisons) recently.

Singhal’s name reportedly figured in the panel of three persons recommended by a search committee headed by the state Chief Secretary. A high-level committee headed by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and comprising Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Rao Narbir Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Haryana Assembly Abhay Chautala will take the final call on the CIC’s selection at a meeting here on April 26.

Singhal was unceremoniously removed as the state police chief on April 13, 2016, for the alleged failure of the police to control violence during the February 2016 Jat quota violence that left 30 persons dead and property worth hundreds of crores of rupees destroyed.

“The committee was disappointed to find that even at the state level, the highest functionaries were almost paralysed….The Director General of Police remained confined to Chandigarh and was content with issuing some orders. He did not lead from the front and did not care to inspire or motivate the personnel in the field,” the report had alleged.

The post of the CIC has fallen vacant after Naresh Gulati, a former bureaucrat, retired last year. Naresh Gulati’s wife Urvashi Gulati, a former Chief Secretary, held the additional charge of the CIC. Urvashi also retired recently, necessitating the appointment of the CIC.

During the 10-year tenure of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, several favourite of the Congress government, a majority of whom bureaucrats, were rehabilitated as State Information Commissioners.

The Chief Information Commissioner holds office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters his office or till he/she attains the age of 65. The salary and allowances payable to him would be the same as that of the Election Commissioner.

EARLIER CIC RETIRED LAST YEAR

• The post of the CIC fell vacant after Naresh Gulati, a former bureaucrat, retired last year. Naresh Gulati's wife Urvashi Gulati, a former Chief Secretary, held the additional charge of the CIC. Urvashi also retired recently, necessitating the appointment of the CIC
• Singhal’s name reportedly  figured in the panel of three persons recommended by a search committee headed by the state Chief Secretary. A high-level committee headed by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will take the final call on the CIC’s selection at a meeting here on April 26.