New Delhi, February 1
Tampering with the security arrangement for former US President Bill Clinton’s visit to the office of IT major Oracle in Hyderabad in March 2000 by a state police head constable has cost him his job as the Supreme Court has set aside the order for his reinstatement.
Quashing the Andhra Pradesh High Court order directing the state police to take head constable Narsullah Khan back on service, a Bench of Mr Justice H K Sema and Mr Justice A R Lakshmanan said such serious matters of security lapse by a personnel of security force could not be treated lightly.
Allowing the appeal of the AP Government against the high court order setting aside Khan’s removal, the apex court said “to instill confidence of the public in the establishment, the only appropriate punishment in such cases is dismissal from the service, which has been correctly awarded to him.”
Khan had removed a close circuit TV (CCTV) camera lens from the ceiling of the room where he was posted in the Oracle’s office during Clinton’s visit and an electrician had noticed it. But on being asked why he did so, he had denied of having touched the lens, which proved false on an inquiry by the state police.
The apex court termed his action as “misconduct” of a police official assigned the duty of “bandobast” during the visit of US President, who ran the security risk of “highest grade”.
Assailing the high court treating it an ordinary matter, the apex court Bench said “we entirely agree with the inquiry officer that the charges are serious in nature, as the offence was
committed by a member of disciplinary force, who deserved stringent punishment.”
