HCS officer’s reversion as steno stayed

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, March 25

The Punjab and High Court has stayed the Haryana Government’s order reverting Jhajjar City Magistrate Bijender Singh (in pic) to his earlier post of stenographer-cum-librarian in the office of the Director of Prosecution, Haryana.

Justice Amit Rawal pronounced this interim order yesterday while hearing the civil writ petition (CWP) filed by Bijender Singh wherein he has challenged the government’s order contending that the order has been issued in violation of Rule 23 of the HCS (Executive Branch) Rules, 2008. The court has now fixed July 31 as next date for hearing.

Bijender was appointed to the HCS (Executive Branch) from Registrar A-II on August 1, 2014 during the Hooda-led government. His first posting was as Jhajjar City Magistrate.

DS Dhesi, Chief Secretary, had issued the order of Bijender’s demotion on March 18. “I have dispatched a copy of the High Court’s order to the Chief Secretary’s office, besides intimating Jhajjar DC Anshaj Singh over the phone. I will join as City Magistrate here on Thursday,” said Bijender Singh. He said a copy of the court’s order was yet to be received.

The DC maintained Bijender had sent him an application seeking extension of his leave. “Since the application was moved after the government issued the order of his reversion, it was rejected as he was legally not on the post of City Magistrate at that time,” he added.