CHANDIGARH - (Gurpreet) A latest reply dated 27 Feb 2023 received from Ashok Prasad, Under Secretary (AIS) & Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Union Public Service Commission ( UPSC) mentions that no information is available with it pertaining to forwarding of names of IPS officers by Government of Punjab to UPSC since July, 2022 and delegation of additional charge of DGP ( Head of Police Force - HoPF), Punjab to Gaurav Yadav, IPS.
An advocate at Punjab & Haryana High Court, Hemant Kumar, filed a RTI with UPSC on 1 Feb, 2023 seeking complete information pertaining to the forwarding of names of IPS officers to UPSC by the State Government of Punjab, if any, since July, 2022 to till date for empanelment by the UPSC for the post of DGP (HoPF) of Punjab in compliance with the directions of the Honble Supreme Court of India Prakash Singh Vs Union of India case since the previous DGP (HoPF) of Punjab to VK Bhawra, IPS (1987 batch) who was appointed as such on 8 Jan 2022 for a two years term was prematurely removed from the post in Sep, 2022 by the Punjab Govt.
Also information was sought pertaining to consultation done, if any, by the Punjab Govt with UPSC since July, 2022 to till date over delegation of additional charge of DGP (HoPF) of Punjab to Gaurav Yadav, IPS ( 1992 batch) who was however not in the Panel of three IPS officers prepared by the UPSC in Jan, 2022.
Pertinent that it has been now total full eight months since Gaurav Yadav, a 1992 batch IPS of Punjab Cadre and primarily posted as Special DGP (Director General of Police), Administration has been holding the additional charge of State's DGP (HoPF).
Hemant told that above period of eight months also includes two months viz. July-Aug, 2022 when Yadav was delegated the additional charge of DGP(HoPF) since then incumbent VK Bhawra proceeded on two months leave in early July, 2022. Further when Bhawra resumed duty in Sep, 2022 he in lieu of being re-posted on this earlier post i.e. DGP(HoPF) was however posted as Chairman, Punjab Police Housing Corporation (PPHC) in the rank of DGP. Consequently Gaurav Yadav was allowed to hold the additional charge of DGP(HoPF), which he was holding since July, 2022, till further Orders. It was also mentioned in the Order dated 2 Sep 2022 that it is being issued as per Orders of the Competent Authority.