Embarrassed by a Central Administrative Tribunal order setting aside the appointments of five senior IPS officers, including State DGP GMP Reddy, the West Bengal Government on Monday chose the confrontationist path deciding not to go by the CAT directive.
Making clear the Government's decision not to take cognisance of the order on a "very serious issue of appointing senior IPS officers", Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee said the Government "has decided against" implementing the order.
Earlier, acting on a petition filed by senior IPS office Nazrul Islam, the Kolkata Bench of the CAT set aside the appointments --- of State DGP & IG, GMP Reddy, DGP, Home Guard RS Nalwa, DGP, Enforcement Vijay Kumar, DGP Armed Police Anil Kumar and DGP Coastal Security Raj Kanjoia --- terming them illegal and directed the State Government to get the posts vacated and constitute a fresh selection committee by February 18 to appoint new incumbents -- including Islam who has been functioning as the ADGP (Provisions).
Curiously what tended to come as a double whammy of sorts the Calcutta High Court on Monday slapped a contempt notice on the State Chief Secretary and the Transport Secretary seeking to know why its orders passed almost a year ago on disciplining the auto-rickshaws of Kolkata were not followed.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice AK Mishra and J Bagchi had in the instant case directed the Government to fit the autos with metres and set their route charts but the orders were not carried out even after a year, the petitioner who drew the court's attention said.
Regarding the IPS officers' case the CAT also questioned the procedural functioning of the selection committee that met on December 5 in the presence of Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee, the senior officer's advocate Surojit Samanta said. Justice Pratap Kumar Roy, Member, Judicial and R Bandopadhyay, Member Administrative passed the order ruling the constitution of the selection committee as illegal.
Nazrul Islam who was not in good terms with Chief Minister and also had earlier filed a criminal case against her had moved the CAT seeking reversal of the Government order ignoring his own case notwithstanding his seniority and appointing other officers above him.
Known for his dry integrity Islam who had fallen out with the previous left Government before taking a central deputation was subsequently brought to the State by Mamata Banerjee. However, their chemistry was short lived as he questioned her policies before getting sidelined from the scheme of things.
Also an acclaimed writer, he is scheduled to retire next month. This is the second such instance when the State Government has decided to ignore the verdict of any quasi-judicial body that has caught it on the wrong foot. Earlier, the Government has more than once ignored the orders of State Human Rights Commission directing it to pay compensation to the petitioners complaining violation of their rights.