Two former DGPs of Jharkhand are in the eye of storm for the alleged irregularities committed during their tenure.
While former DGP VD Ram, a 1973 batch officer, has run into trouble for allowing construction of a data centre building at the State police headquarters without floating a tender, his one year junior GS Rath has come under the scanner for alleged irregularities in the appointment of sub inspectors (SIs). In fact, Rath's successor and present DGP Rajiv Kumar has ordered action against him. Ram retired on July 30, 2011 while Rath superannuated on February 28 this year.
"As selection was done on the basis of preference cum merit in spite of doing it on the basis of merit cum preference, 35 candidates could not get selected despite having numbers more than the selected candidates. I have ordered to take action against the former DGP," said the DGP. According to Kumar, a meeting of Chairman of the selection committee was supposed to be held with the other members at every stage of the selection process till the written test, but no such meeting was held before the final list was published.
"A number of candidates met him and a total of 45 PIls were filed in the Jharkhand High Court against the final result," said Kumar. "Hence, I decided to set up a three-member committee which will inquire into the matter and a fresh merit list will be published as the selection of the final list was totally faulty," he added.
He, however, denied having any detailed information regarding Ram which is being looked after by the vigilance department but asserted that money had definitely been withdrawn for the construction of the data centre. Former DGP Rath, however, cried foul and said that he was being victimized by a lobby against him who wanted to malign his image while Ram questioned the role of a DGP in the construction of the data centre.
Rath said that he had taken approval from the then government of Arjun Munda before publishing the final merit list. "He only published it when he got a go ahead from the Government," he added."The advertisement was published in such a way that it could be interpreted in the own way one likes. Those officers, who were members of the committee, are now crying ignorance. In fact, they should have reported it to the higher authorities that they were not being heard in the matter," said Rath.
"Now I repent why I took up the job of the DGP, and why I initiated the recruitment which had not been done in the last 17 years," added Rath.According to Rath, he was being victimised by the officers against whom he took actions as the DGP of the State."After my retirement, my security was downgraded, I was forced to vacate the official residence three months in advance and even my orderlies were asked immediately not to report me," complained Rath.
He even alleged that there is every possibility that they might have manipulated the files related to the recruitment. Ram, however, challenged the investigating agency that they can carry out any sort of inquiry they want to do regarding the construction of the data centre building. He also questioned his role in the matter. "One should first check that whether a DGP has any role in the construction of a data centreIJ" said Ram. "I am ready for inquiry by any of the investigating agency," he added.
The Home department, on the other hand, has started examining on its level. "A report prepared on the recruitment of sub-inspectors has been forwarded to us by the DGP. We are examining the report and further action will be taken as per the instructions of the government," said Home Secretary NN Pandey.Meanwhile, former Speaker CP Singh has demanded CBI inquiry in the matter. "I have demanded a CBI probe into the recruitment scam. We had raised the matter in the Assembly six months back as there were several complaints against him before he was the DGP of the state," said Singh.