Bilaspur: The High Court has stayed the transfer and posting orders of police officers. The dispute, arising from allegations that a senior officer was overlooked in favor of assigning the charge of Superintendent of Police (SP) to a junior officer, has now reached the High Court. The Court has sought a response from the state government and other parties involved. The matter was heard by a single bench presided over by Justice BD Guru, and the next hearing is scheduled for September 23.
A female police officer filed the petition, alleging that the seniority list was disregarded. The state government had issued transfer and posting orders for police officers on July 20, assigning charges of SP and Commandant. Additional SP Richa Mishra filed the petition in the High Court, stating that she ranks 35th on the Additional SP gradation list. Despite this, junior officers were given the charge of SP and Commandant.
While the petitioner, Richa Mishra, is senior to the officers assigned these roles, she was posted as a Deputy Commandant. The petition cites a state government circular dated July 14, 2014, which explicitly directs that a junior officer shall not be given charge of a higher post by superseding a senior officer. Granting interim relief, the High Court has stayed the implementation of the July 20 order until the next hearing. The Court has also issued notices to the state government and other parties, seeking a response within three weeks.
