HC stays suspension of SDO on the order of Haryana minister Anil Vij   

The Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the suspension order and other criminal proceedings directed by Anil Vij, Energy Minister of Haryana, against a sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) on October 10.

The court passed the order while hearing of a petition filed by Rahul Yadav, SDO, subdivision, UHBVN, Guhla.

Yadav had approached the high court after the District Grievance Committee (DGC), chaired by Vij, issued directions to suspend him from service and register an FIR against him. Yadav argued that the DGC had no authority to pass such orders as only the managing director, UHBVN, being the competent authority, could make any decisions regarding his service, in accordance with the service rules in terms of Article 309 of the Constitution of India.

Vij had ordered the suspension while conducting a meeting of District Grievance Committee (DGC), Kaithal, on a complaint filed  by a person who had levelled allegations of bribe against the SDO for the grant of an electricity connection. The court has stayed the order and barred the authorities from taking any coercive steps until the next date of hearing of the case on April 21, 2026.