Panel asks Hry IPS officer to retire early

Haryana IPS officer Hemant Kalson is likely to be prematurely retired from service. The controversial officer was booked by Panchkula police last week for allegedly misbehaving and abusing a nurse at a general hospital. He also allegedly created a ruckus at the medical facility under the influence.

The recommendation was made by a review committee headed by Sanjeev Kaushal, chief secretary. The board comprised Rajeev Arora, additional chief secretary, Home, PK Agrawal, director general of police (DGP), Haryana, and Praveer Ranjan, DGP, Chandigarh. The recommendation is pending approval from Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Kalson, a 2001 batch IPS officer, is a known serial offender. The officer, who was promoted to the IPS from the state police services, has been placed under suspension a couple of times during his career for being on the wrong side of the law. He was helld on August 22, 2019, in Panchkula and suspended after being booked for allegedly trying to outrage the modesty of a woman, public misconduct under the influence, trespassing, and voluntarily causing hurt in two separate cases — he is said to have assaulted two women and a man after trespassing into their homes at Pinjore.

Kalson was also stripped of his duties as a poll observer in Tamil Nadu in 2019 after he fired shots in the air from the firearm of a security guard posted at the circuit house he was staying at.

His suspension was revoked a few months ago. Kalson’s premature retirement has been recommended as per the provisions of Rule 16(3) of the All-India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules. The rule holds that the Centre, in consultation with the state government, can retire an All-India Services officer in public interest, with three months of prior notice, or three months’ pay and allowances in lieu of such a notice.