INDECENT COMMENTS AGAINST UP CM: HC STAYS TRANSFER ORDER

PRAYAGRAJ : The Allahabad high court has temporarily stayed the transfer order passed against a radio inspector who had allegedly made some indecent comments against UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath on a social media messaging app.

Disposing of a writ petition filed by radio inspector Kuldip Singh, Justice Saral Srivastava observed, “As according to the petitioner, the charge with respect to some objectionable post on a group on a social messaging app in the enquiry is not found proved against him, this court is of the opinion that the petitioner may be permitted to submit a detailed representation against the transfer order before the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operation) (Police Telecommunication), U.P. Police Radio Headquarters, Lucknow within a period of two weeks with a copy of this order.”

The court further directed that in case representation is filed by the petitioner, as directed above, the DIG shall consider and decide the same strictly in accordance with law by a reasoned and speaking order preferably within a period of two months thereafter.

“For a period of three months or till disposal of representation of petitioner, whichever is earlier, transfer order dated September 8, 2021, and relieving order dated September 13, 2021 shall remain stayed,” the court directed.

The petitioner was transferred on September 8 from Agra to Kanpur on the ground that he had forwarded some objectionable post on the messaging app and, accordingly, an enquiry was instituted against the petitioner. In the aforesaid backdrop, the petitioner was transferred on administrative exigency after seeking approval from the Police Radio Establishment Board.