Playing with city SSP's post
By Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 5 — Mystery continues to surround the "machinations" behind the stalling of Mr Dinkar Gupta's appointment as SSP, Chandigarh. Perhaps, it will never be mentioned in the government files as to who in the Chandigarh Administration "exerted pressure" to over rule the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) favouring Mr Gupta.

However, The Tribune in its investigations has found out that the Chandigarh Administration's order may be detrimental to the interests of the Punjab government and its IPS officers. Knowledgeable sources point out that the administration may have been irked as the Home Ministry did not clear the name of their choice, Mr Prayag Jain, a Punjab cadre officer.

Certain persons who are said to be close to the powers that be in the administration are also being suspected to be behind the move.

Since 1990, following the orders of the then Prime Minister, Mr Chandra Shekhar, the post of SSP, Chandigarh, has been held by Punjab cadre officers. The Chandigarh Administration has now reversed that decision of the Prime Minister and handed over the post to a UT Cadre officer.

Highly placed sources have confirmed that Punjab is to officially take up the matter with the Central Government while close door discussions on the subject have been held between senior Akali leaders and the Director General of Police, Punjab.

Till 10 days ago everything was going on smoothly and it was being expected that the present SSP, Mr C.S.R. Reddy, was being replaced with a Punjab cadre officer at the end of his tenure .

As a sequel to this, in the last week of September, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) wrote to the Chief Secretary, Punjab, saying: "The Central Government is pleased to convey its approval for inter cadre deputation of Mr Dinkar Gupta , IPS, Punjab, to join as SSP, Chandigarh, vice Mr C.S. R.Reddy , IPS, whose tenure ends." A copy of this order was also sent to the Chandigarh Administration.

The order seemed to be routine as the Chandigarh Administration, in May this year, had asked the Punjab Government to send a panel of officers to "replace the present SSP, Mr C.S.R. Reddy, whose tenure ends in August, 1998". The panel was to be forwarded to the MHA for final approval and appointment in place of Mr Reddy.

However, when the MHA cleared the name of Mr Dinkar Gupta the Chandigarh Administration, quite surprisingly, did a volte face. On the morning of September 28 the Administration passed an order" The Administrator, Union Territory, is pleased to take Mr Dinkar Gupta, IPS, on deputation as SSP, Chandigarh, and Mr C.S.R. Reddy, IPS, has been repatriated to his parent state, Punjab. The order will take effect when Mr Dinkar Gupta joins."

Till this point the Chandigarh Administration followed the orders of the MHA. However, the same evening another order was passed saying "Consequent upon the posting of Mr Dinkar Gupta, IPS, Mr N.S. Randhawa, IPS, will join as SSP city vice Mr C.S.R. Reddy with immediate effect. Mr Dinkar Gupta will join as SSP, Headquarters." A copy of this controversial order was, surprisingly, never sent to the Punjab Government or to the Union Home Ministry.

Mr Randhawa, a UT cadre officer, was already serving in Chandigarh as SSP headquarters. Quite naturally , Mr Dinkar Gupta, who was posted as SSP, Ludhiana did not join. Though he has not protested in writing , Mr Gupta, may not join as SSP headquarters, considered to be a second-line posting in police circles.

The process of appointing an SSP in Chandigarh started six months ago when the Chandigarh Administration asked the Punjab Government to send a panel of names for the post as the tenure of Mr Reddy was to end. The names of Mr Dinkar Gupta, Narinder Pal Singh and Gurdev Singh Sahota were sent by Punjab. However, the administration rejected this and insisted on another panel.

The next time three more names — Mr Prayag Jain, Mr Gaurav Yadav and Mr Arun Kumar — were added to the list. Out of this the Administration recommended the name of Mr Prayag Jain. The MHA over ruled and opted for Mr Dinkar Gupta a 1987 batch officer.

The Tribune faxed a message with the following queries to the UT Administrator .

1. Chandigarh Administration had sought the panel of officers from Punjab to replace Mr Reddy and not Mr Randhawa.

2. If the Administration wants Mr Randhawa to take over as SSP, Chandigarh, and repatriate Mr Reddy then why are the orders subject to Mr Gupta's joining? Why does Mr Randhawa not take over now ?

A spokesperson of the Administrator rang up The Tribune to say that the Administrator was not available would give his version tomorrow.