By IANS,
Mumbai : The appointment of Maharashtra Director-General of Police (DGP) A.N. Roy was quashed by the central administrative tribunal (CAT) Wednesday, eight months after the state government picked him for the top post.
CAT’s ruling came after a complaint last month by S. Chakraborthy, the DGP-Home Guards and Civil Defence, challenging the appointment, his lawyer R.R. Shetty told IANS.
Delivering the ruling Wednesday, CAT members Justice Jog Singh and Justice Sudhakar Mishra also directed the state government to appoint a new DGP within four weeks until which time Roy can continue in office.
Roy’s appointment to the top post in the state police force in February this year had become controversial as he had superseded three other DGPs.
Chakraborthy had contended that Roy was fourth in seniority and his appointment as DGP overlooked the prospects of three other DGPs – S.S. Virk, Chakraborthy himself and J.D. Virkar.
Moreover, the trio was promoted as DGPs at least one year before Roy and were at least two years senior to him in service.
In its reply to CAT, the state government had earlier stated that as Roy was the most meritorious officer in the state, he was appointed to the post.
But CAT directed that the new appointment must be made from among the three other DGPs only and Roy should not be considered for the top post, Shetty said.
An official from Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil’s secretariat said they have not yet received a copy of the CAT order and until then could not comment on it. Both Roy and Chakraborthy also remained unavailable for their reactions to the CAT ruling.