The Himachal Pradesh high court here on Wednesday accepted the affidavit of the state government, informing that all officers with “doubtful integrity” were transferred from “sensitive posts”.
Disposing of a petitiuon against departmental inquiries initiated by the state government, the division bench comprising acting chief justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and justice Kuldip Singh observed that all orders passed in the petitionare were complied with by the government. The state government informed the court that 33 officers were shifted to non-sensitive posts, one was acquitted by a court and eight were exonerated from charges in departmental proceedings, whereas one stood retired.
Earlier, the high court had directed the state government to transfer 43 officers with doubtful integrity, as early as possible and from sensitive posts to non-sensitive posts. The court had directed the government to identify the posts in three weeks and shift such officers from sensitive posts.
The petitioner, Sher Singh, had approached the high court against the departmental proceedings initiated by the government. Later, the high court had enlarged the scope of the writ petition and directed the government to submit the list of such officers. Thereafter, the high Court had taken a tough stand on corruption and directed the government to inform government officials that whosoever would delay cases pertaining to officials booked for corruption could be arrayed as accused in the case.
Hearing the petition, the then chief Justice, Kurian Joseph, observed, 'We do not want to create a sensation, but want to sensitise the officers of the state.” He had observed that delay at the investigation stage and at grant of sanction stage was “fatal to the cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act”. In view of such directions, the court had directed the government to furnish details of officers with doubtful integrity. Accordingly, the government had furnished the details of such officers.
{{/usCountry}}Hearing the petition, the then chief Justice, Kurian Joseph, observed, 'We do not want to create a sensation, but want to sensitise the officers of the state.” He had observed that delay at the investigation stage and at grant of sanction stage was “fatal to the cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act”. In view of such directions, the court had directed the government to furnish details of officers with doubtful integrity. Accordingly, the government had furnished the details of such officers.
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