CHANDIGARH: In a major embarrassment to the Haryana government, the Punjab and Haryana high court has questioned the appointment of former CBI officers as SPs and DSPs on contract basis, and has ordered that the investigations handed over by the state anti-corruption bureau (ACB) to such contractual police officers be withdrawn with immediate effect.
Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj also made it clear that the chargesheet filed by the former CBI officers engaged as investigating officers (IOs) shall not proceed any further, and the proceedings therein shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing.
The decision will impact several important corruption cases being probed by former CBI officers serving as DSPs or SPs in the ACB. The HC noted that the state had failed to respond to the question that under what provision of law could police officers be engaged on a contract basis.
The ACB, earlier known as state vigilance bureau, had proposed engaging ex-CBI officers for probe into corruption cases, which was approved by CM Manohar Lal Khattar. This came after a person, Dheeraj Garg, who was arrested for bribery, filed a complaint about the government hiring two ex-CBI officers against the rules.
Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj also made it clear that the chargesheet filed by the former CBI officers engaged as investigating officers (IOs) shall not proceed any further, and the proceedings therein shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing.
The decision will impact several important corruption cases being probed by former CBI officers serving as DSPs or SPs in the ACB. The HC noted that the state had failed to respond to the question that under what provision of law could police officers be engaged on a contract basis.
The ACB, earlier known as state vigilance bureau, had proposed engaging ex-CBI officers for probe into corruption cases, which was approved by CM Manohar Lal Khattar. This came after a person, Dheeraj Garg, who was arrested for bribery, filed a complaint about the government hiring two ex-CBI officers against the rules.