After a career spanning over three decades, senior IPS officer Gurinder Singh Dhillon has bid adieu to the Punjab Police force by opting for voluntary retirement on Wednesday. Dhillon, who was serving as the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), decided to step down from his post, citing health reasons. He was set to retire in May this year.
Dhillon’s decision to embrace voluntary retirement has left many pondering about his future endeavours. Speculation has been rife about the possibility of Dhillon venturing into politics, given his experience and reputation in Punjab’s administrative circles. However, the seasoned officer remained tight-lipped about any potential foray into the political arena, asserting that he had not contemplated such a move thus far.
“I have not thought of anything like that or discussed it yet,” said Dhillon when asked about his inclination towards a political career, leaving observers intrigued by the uncertainty surrounding his post-retirement plans.
In a statement reflecting on his decision to embrace voluntary retirement, Dhillon expressed a sense of liberation, likening his departure to being “uncaged”, and open to the winds of destiny. “I have taken VRS. I am feeling uncaged. Let’s see where the wind of destiny pollinates me,” he wrote in a post on X. Dhillon said that he would utilize the experience he has gained over 34 years, for himself and others. He maintained that the question of entering the political field is quite a difficult one, and everything depends on whether his family gives him permission for this work or not.
“I have not made this kind of decision. I don't know where my experience will be used,” said Dhillon, who claims to have read more than 300 history books.
Not the first instance of VRS
This is not the first instance of senior officials taking VRS. Prior to this, IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu also took the VRS, following which she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and is not contesting from Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. Similarly, in 2015-batch IAS officer Karnail Singh had also submitted his resignation to the Government recently. He had served as the Deputy Commissioner of Kapurthala, but was upset for not receiving a new posting for many days. His resignation came close to his superannuation.
