HC allows Everester's plea for police job consideration

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 12

Nearly six years after Haryana village youth Kapil Ruhil scaled new heights by climbing Mount Everest, Justice Ritu Bahri of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday allowed his plea.

He was seeking consideration for appointment in the Haryana Police on a par with other Everesters given the posts of DSP or Sub-Inspector in the state.

In his petition, Ruhil had sought directions for appointment in Home (Police) department in terms of appointment given to Mamta Sodha as DSP.

An award of Rs 21 lakh was also given to her, the petitioner had asserted. The detailed judgment in the matter was yet to be uploaded.

Hailing from Raichadwala village in Jind district, Kapil had fulfilled his dream of scaling Mount Everest in May 2012. Son of a farmer, Kapil had started his expedition on March 28, 2012, in Nepal.

During the course of hearing of his petition against the Chief Secretary and other respondents through counsel Aftab Singh Khara, the Bench was told that the matter was covered by order and judgment dated February 1, rendered by the High Court in another petition filed by Sunita Singh Choken.

The Bench was told that the petitions were required to be disposed of in the same terms. The state counsel, on the other hand, had prayed for a short adjournment to examine the matter and respond.

Taking up the case referred to by the petitioner, the High Court had directed Haryana to consider Choken, who climbed Mount Everest in 2011, for appointment in the Haryana Police on a par with other Everesters.

Justice Rajiv Narain Raina had asserted that if persons like Choken were given jobs in the police department, their presence would be inspirational for the police force.