HC rejects plea for Afroz’s posting as Baddi SP

The HP High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the immediate posting of Ilma Afroz as Baddi SP.

While dismissing the PIL, a Division Bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja observed that “the public interest litigation cannot be maintained in service matters, more particularly at the instance of a total stranger. Moreover, the posting of an SP is a sensitive issue and looking into the nature of the duties, it is the prerogative of the state government as to which officer is to be transferred or kept at a particular place.”

The petitioner had filed the PIL contending therein that, he was a public spirited person and the petition was being filed in the larger public interest, since a grave injustice had been caused by the respondent/authorities, including the state government, whereby they had created the circumstances qua the SP, Baddi, in Solan district, who had proceeded on leave despite the fact that she had been working as an exemplary officer in curbing illegal mining activities and had effectively taken action against the drug mafia.