Haryana faux pas on DGP retirement

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

A faux pas by Haryana’s Home Department on the “retirement” of DGP BS Sandhu today left the Manohar Lal Khattar government red-faced.

While the state government’s case for grant of extension to DGP Sandhu is pending with the Centre, a letter today by the state’s Home Department that he would be retired on September 30 created confusion in the administrative circles.

“Governor of Haryana is pleased to retire BS Sandhu from government service with effect from September 30 on attaining the age of superannuation,” a communication said.

In a damage control exercise, the government termed the communication as a “routine matter”, claiming that it would be withdrawn.

The state government had recently sought a seven-month extension for Sandhu apparently “in line” with the Supreme Court directions regarding a two-year tenure irrespective of the date of superannuation for DGPs. Sandhu was appointed to the post on April 27, 2017.

Official sources said it was for the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) of the Centre to take a final call. The ACC had recently granted three-month extension in service to Maharashtra DGP DD Padsalgikar and Punjab Police chief Suresh Arora after relaxing Section 16 (1) of the All India Service (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules.

The Haryana Government’s intention to retain Sandhu had been demonstrated by the fact that it had sought his extension even as it was yet to send a panel (list of suitable candidates) for the next DGP to the UPSC as per the SC’s July 3 ruling. Under the SC order, states were free to appoint as police chief any one of the three most suitable candidates chosen by the UPSC from the state panel to be sent three months prior to the retirement of the current DGP.

Officials said the state government would be content with a three-month extension to Sandhu as this would it give “ample time” to seek clarifications from the SC and prepare the panel for the next DGP.