Govt fast-tracks appointments to police complaints authority

Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 18

The long wait of the defunct State Police Complaints Authority, Haryana, for a chairperson and members is likely to end soon.

The State Police Complaints Authority is a statutory body constituted over eight years ago to look into the complaints of serious misconduct by police personnel.

The Home Department, in response to its advertisement for filling these posts, has received 40 applications for three posts — a Chairperson and two members — after the deadline ended on February 15.

Sources said while eight applications have been received for the post of Chairperson, 32 for the post of three members in the authority, of which one should be a woman.

Among the applicants for the post of Chairperson are Additional Chief Secretary, Home, SS Prasad, and Additional Chief Secretary, Food and Supplies, Ram Niwas. The two officers are slated to retire later this year. Former Home Secretary PK Mahapatra, now retired, has also put in his application as has Ramesh Krishan, another retired officer.

The department received four applications of women for the post of a member, which means 28 applications have been received for the remaining two members.

The complaints authority, envisaged under the Haryana Police Act, 2007, has been lying defunct since 2013 with the government failing to appoint a chairman since the first incumbent, HS Rana, completed his three-year term.

Sources said the government wants to fill up all such vacancies in Authorities and Commissions since elections, both Parliament and Assembly, are scheduled for this year. Before the Assembly elections, likely to be held in October, the Manohar Lal Khattar-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in Haryana is likely to fast-track these appointments especially since new appointments and other development works will remain suspended once the model code of conduct is in place for the Parliamentary elections.

40 applications for 3 posts  

• The Home Department has received 40 applications for three posts — a Chairperson and two members 
• Eight applications have been received for the post of Chairperson and 32 for the post of three members
• Among the applicants for the post of Chairperson are ACS, Home, SS Prasad, and ACS, Food and Supplies, Ram Niwas. The two officers are slated to retire later this year