HC quashes govt’s order of dismissing 41 policemen from service

RANCHI: The Jharkhand high court on Friday quashed the government’s 2013 order dismissing 41 company commanders and sergeants from the police service and directed it to reinstate all of them.

A single-judge bench of justice P Patnaik quashed the order, observing that the government didn’t follow the set rules and regulations to dismiss the officials from service.

The issue refers to a 2008 advertisement, through which applications were invited to recruit nearly 200 company commander, sergeants and subinspectors. The recruitment process was initiated in 2009 and successful candidates were appointed. But the police department later found that some of the candidates had not fulfilled the set parameters for appointment and therefore their recruitment could not be termed as legal.

A committee was constituted to inquire into the ‘illegal’ appointments and on the basis of the committee’s report, the government had terminated the services of the 41 newly recruits.

The aggrieved parties then moved the high court, challenging the dismissal order. They contended that they had fulfilled all criteria for appointment, which was made in accordance with established rules.

Raising question over the legality of the appointments at a much belated stage was not appropriate, they argued, alleging that the committee had furnished its recommendation without giving them an opportunity to present their side.

They also alleged that the entire matter was the fallout of the altercation between former DGPs Rajiv Kumar and GS Rath.