High Court recalls punitive order against Patiala IGP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 3

Just about a month after a fine of Rs 1 lakh was imposed on Patiala Range Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Amardeep Singh Rai for ordering reinvestigation in a cheating and forgery case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday recalled the order.

The recall order by Justice Ramendra Jain came on an application filed by the state government. Describing Rai as one of the most competent officers, the state asserted that the order would have an adverse effect. The Bench was also told that adequate care would be taken on the compliance of directions issued by the Punjab DGP against the holding of multiple inquiries. DGP Suresh Arora was present in the court during the hearing.

Justice Jain, during the course of hearing, wanted to know about the action initiated in case of erring officer if the subsequent probe found the initial one to be faulty. The DGP was also asked to specify the number of such cases where action was initiated.

The DGP, on the previous date of hearing, was also directed to initiate departmental action against Rai and any other “erring officer” for violating order/circular dated May 24, 2009, whereby all state police officers were debarred from conducting subsequent inquiry without approval.

The High Court also directed the DGP and the Advocate-General to appear in person to explain why circular against multiple inquiries was being frequently violated by police officers. The DGP was also directed to inform the Bench regarding action taken or to be taken against erring officers.

Justice Jain had added that several re-inquiries were being conducted in every criminal case in Punjab. The menace was going on for the last two decades and was not coming to end despite issuance of circular by the DGP. The police officers were not stopping themselves from entertaining applications for re-inquiries without getting orders from the DGP, despite repeated warnings. “Much water has already been flown. Time has come to deprecate such malpractices adopted by the corrupt police officers,” Justice Jain had added.