Gujarat HC seeks reply from govt on PIL seeking full-time DGP
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Thursday sought a reply from the state government on a PIL seeking A direction for appointment of a full-time director general of police (DGP) in the state.
A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi asked the government pleader to seek instruction on the petition challenging non-appointment of a regular DGP in Gujarat, which, it said, “is contrary to the provisions of the existing laws”.
The next date of hearing of the case is October 10. The state, at present, has in-charge DGP and not a full time DGP.
According to the PIL, filed by former IPS officer and lawyer Rahul Sharma, Gujarat has not seen a permanent DGP since April 15, 2016, when P C Thakur was suddenly transferred and replaced by an incharge DGP P P Pandey.
A petition in the Supreme Court by former DGP Julio Ribeiro had led to the state government revoke the appointment of in-charge DGP Pandey, following which Geeta Johri was appointed.
“Regular appointment to the post of DGP is a matter of public interest. Appointment of a regular, full-time DGP is the first prescription of the rule of law,” the PIL said, adding that “an in-charge DGP makes him vulnerable to political machinations and pressure and thereby weakens the police administration and functioning”.
It said that the Bombay Police (Gujarat Amendment) Act, 2007, makes it mandatory for Gujarat to appoint a regular full-time police chief with a minimum tenure of two years.
“Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act is impermissible, especially when officers, of required seniority, to officiate at this post are available,” it said. NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that the BHU Vice Chancellor be terminated over the handling of the recent violence on the campus.
“BHU VC (Girish Chandra Tripathi) should be terminated for baton-charge on girls and strict action should be taken against him. Girls at BHU campus and hostels should be provided security,” Maliwal said in her letter to Modi.
“University or College administration should be made accountable for any mishap or harassment of girls on campus or college,” she said.
A number of students, including women, and two journalists were injured in a baton-charge by the police in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where a protest on Saturday night against an alleged eve-teasing incident turned violent. The incident was not only traumatising but it also highlighted the callousness of the administration over such impetus concern. Girls face eve teasing and groping on campus regularly, the letter said.
“Even after several complaints, the administration did not take action against the miscreants. To make their voices heard, the girls protested and were baton-charged by the police,” it said. Maliwal said that the sexual harassment and discrimination against girls “is not limited to the BHU campus”.
Such practices are prevalent in prestigious colleges in the national capital as well. In the last one week, security of girls in two colleges of the DU has been brought to limelight, she said. “Around 500 students of Ambedkar College went to the police station demanding for safe and secure campus for girls where eve teasing and groping was a regular occurrence. At Khalsa College, some boys tried to forcibly enter the girl’s hostel,” she said.
The women’s body has sought PMO’S intervention into any discrimination in hostel timing for boys and girls and drafting of a national policy to ensure safety of girls on campus.
A petition in the Supreme Court by EXDGP Julio Ribeiro had led to the state government revoke the appointment of in-charge DGP P P Pandey