Delhi HC seeks replies from UPSC, Haryana govt on Haryana DGP’s appointment

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DGP Manoj Yadav

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Haryana government to file their responses on a plea challenging the appointment of Manoj Kumar Yadava as the Haryana’s Director General of Police (DGP).

Justice Suresh Kait also asked Yadava to file his response and kept the matter for next hearing to July 11.

Petitioner cited Prakash Singh judgment (2006) 8 SCC 1 passed by SC relating to appointment of DG Police of States and the subsequent clarification.

UPSC/State of Haryana appointed Manoj Yadava as DGP, Haryana in contravention to the guidelines of the Central Government and the judgment passed by the SC susperseding Prabhat Ranjan Deo (senior to Yadava and eligible).

At today’s hearing, the advocate appearing for the petitioner Prabhat Ranjan Deo informed the court that he had earlier filed a writ under article 32 before Apex Court challenging the appointment of DGP Haryana and the SC granted him liberty to approach the HC.

The advocate said that despite being the seniormost and fully qualified, Deo was unnoticed and superseded and not even recognized by the UPSC in the process of empanelment for the post of DGP.

“That despite being fully eligible in view of the aforementioned directions of the Supreme Court as well as the guidelines laid down by the Central Government and being the senior most amongst other candidates on the panel and the representation made the petitioner was not even considered for promotion to the post of DGP by UPSC and was not empanelled for the post of DGP. The entire action of the UPSC is arbitrary, illegal, unfair, unjust and thus in violation of Article 14, 19 (1) (g) and Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” the petition read.

—India Legal Bureau

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