Vij strips ADGP of all his charges over non-performance

CHANDIGARH: Haryana home minister Anil Vij on Thursday divested additional director general of police (ADGP, administration) Arshinder Singh Chawla of all charges assigned to him by the state government. A 1993batch IPS officer, Chawla was holding the charge of administration, telecom and information technology.

The home minister, it is learnt, was upset with ADGP Chawla for not complying with his orders, including proposals to transfer police officials.

“The ADGP, administration, did not respond to any communication sent by me. I had made a whole lot of suggestions aimed at improving police functioning and providing relief to the public but each proposal communicated to him was ignored,’’ an angry Vij said.

The home minister said Chawla was entrusted with the task of implementing universal helpline number, Dial 112, an emergency response support system for informing the police,

fire brigade and ambulance services. “But the Dial 112 project is also at a standstill, which is why I have ordered that all his charges be withdrawn,’’ the minister said.

On being asked as to why he paid an unscheduled visit at the police headquarters in Panchkula on Thursday, Vij said he went there to check whether his orders to divest ADGP Chawla of all charges were being complied with or not.

As per orders, three officers will now supervise the work looked after by Chawla till further orders.

ADGP (modernisation and welfare) Alok Roy will now supervise telecommunication, ADGP (law and order) Navdeep Virk will supervise the work of general administration branch, establishment II and III branches and information technology and ADGP ( headquarters) Kala Ramachandran will supervise the work of establishment –I branch, legal and training branch, the orders said.

“The ADGP will remain without work. He will come to the office but will have no work to do,’’ the home minister said. Chawla, meanwhile, has applied for a 15-day leave.

“I have also sought a performance report by September 18 from every officer posted at the police headquarters,’’ Vij said.