The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Saturday, June 1, 2002, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I L B A G

Twists & turns in IPS officer’s career

The article “Twists and turns in I.P.S. officer’s career” (May 22) by Reeta Sharma presents a distorted story and attempts to tarnish my image on the basis of bald allegations which have not been looked into so far, even though the matter is sub-judice in the Supreme Court.

The allegation that three applications of voluntary retirement have helped me to get leave of absence sanctioned and to get the charge sheets dropped is false, as the charge sheet dated Sept 27, 2001, is still pending. The period of absence of 15 months in 1992-93 was regularised on medical ground. Accordingly the charge sheet of Jan, 1993, was withdrawn on merits.

I have been hospitalised thrice in the past 12 years and have undergone one major surgery. I have committed no breach of service rules at any stage. I was promoted to the rank of IGP in May, 1999, since there were no pending allegations of service misconduct.

I applied for voluntary retirement on 5.5.1993 due to medical problems and deposited three months’ salary in lieu of the notice period. This application was rejected by the Government of India as I had completed neither 50 years of age nor 30 years of service. Also there was no provision to deposit three months’ salary in lieu of the notice period.

The Government of India on Sept 13, 1994, asked the Punjab Government, if I still needed voluntary retirement, a fresh application be obtained from me and forwarded with its recommendation. The state government did not inform me about the rejection, did not issue a posting order to resume duty and also did not ask for a fresh VR application.

On 29.11.1994 the state government wrote a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs stating wrongly that my whereabouts were not known whereas the state had all along known my address both in India and overseas. Consequently, the Government of India, on 2.3.1995, issued an order of retrospective retirement w.e.f. 3.5.1993, dispensing with the provisions of three months’ notice. The Government of India and the state have admitted that the order of 2.3.1995 was neither served on me nor a gazette notification about retirement was published.

After waiting for about two years, on 18.4.1995 I withdrew my request for voluntary retirement since I had recovered from illness and requested to regularise the intervening period as leave of the kind due. While some vested interests in Punjab Police Headquarters deliberately delayed the matter, the Government of India acceded to my request for withdrawal of retirement notice on 14.8.1997. On 18.8.1997 I was posted DIG (Admn) IRB. Vested interests got the posting order quashed by the CAT. The case is now pending in the Supreme Court and is likely to come up for hearing after summer vacation. Due to an interim stay order passed by the Supreme Court on 10.1.2002, the then Principal Secy. Home, relieved me from service on 23.1.2002 without getting the approval of the competent authority i.e. Government of India. This order was withdrawn on 31.3.2002 and now the case is under consideration of the Government of India.

Since the State of Punjab had unilaterally severed the “master-servant” relationship with me till 18.8.1998, I was left with no choice but to work to survive. Some vested interests issued me a charge sheet in Sept, 2001, on allegations of private employment and it is still pending.

I have been subjected to extreme administrative persecution since April, 1995. All my legitimate dues and benefits have been denied to me on account of some bald allegations, which have not been gone into so far.

R.K. SHARMA, IPS, Chandigarh

Badal’s letters

In the editorial “These ‘letter bombs’!” (May 18), it has been stated that it goes to the credit of the former Chief Minister that he has graciously acknowledged having written two letters to the Prime Minister, seeking Mr (Ravi) Sidhu’s placement in the UPSC.

But I don’t really understand what other option was available to him except acknowledging the writing of these letters. They were written on his letter head and carried his signatures. His action would have been really gracious had he admitted having made the blunder of recommending a person for the UPSC job without checking his antecedents. But he is making totally unconvincing excuses to justify his action!

You are right when you describe Mr Badal as a “thorough gentleman”. Afterall, only a thorough gentleman could have recommended the promotion of a thorough gentleman from the PPSC to the UPSC!

SURENDRA MIGLANI, Kaithal

Cheaper milk

On demand from the public, the H.P. Milk Federation has started supplying fresh milk to consumers at Nahan and Solan without routing it through the factory at Shimla and without poly-packing it. The milk, fresh and healthful, is priced at Rs 11 per litre.

Previously milk collected from the farmers in Sirmour and Solan was sent to Shimla where it was processed and polypacked and returned to these towns to be sold at Rs 14 per litre. Milk lost its freshness and became costlier in the process. The public and the veterinarians objected to the practice on the ground that imported technology and practice were not suited to the Indian conditions where there were no surpluses to be processed. The resolution to this effect was first adopted at a seminar by the State Veterinary Council at Solan during 1997. The authorities have responded positively and it is gratifying to see people line up for milk at the booths — milk sans polythene. People want more milk at more booths.

Poultry has failed to achieve the same success for lack of marketing facilities. The Department of Animal Husbandry can adopt a similar approach, collect meat and eggs from farmers and tag up with the Dairy Manager for sale at the same booths.

Finally, will the federations in other states give the indigenous system a try?

L.R. SHARMA, Solan