Ignored for post of DSP, mountaineer unhappy

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 19

Mountaineer Ramlal Sharma is relieved after the Cabinet’s decision to appoint him as Sub-Inspector (SI) in the police, but is disappointed because he did not get the post of DSP like another mountaineer Mamta Sodha as had been ordered by the High Court.

Ever since Sharma, a resident of Tohana in Fatehabad, scaled the Mt Everest on March 31, 2013, he had been running from pillar to post for his appointment as a DSP like Sodha, who climbed the peak earlier and appointed by the state government on June 28, 2010.

However, his repeated requests went unheeded and he had to sell fruits and vegetables on ‘rehri’ to eke out a living. He, however, did not stop his pursuits for adventure and scaled the Mt Elbrus in 2014 and made a record by cycling on the bed of Arabian Sea last year.

Sharma moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to the state government to consider his representation for appointment as DSP like Sodha and also cash award of Rs 21 lakh as given to her.

In her judgment delivered on February 17, Justice Ritu Bahri directed the state government to provide him cash award as well as appointment on par with Sodha within three months of the order.

“Though the Cabinet gave its approval to my appointment on Tuesday, I am already undergoing training at Madhuban as the CM had issued orders of my appointment as the Sub-Inspector last month. I am happy that my unemployment would end, but wish the government had implemented the court order in its letter and spirit,” said the mountaineer.