CHANDIGARH: The Union Home ‘Ministry has taken a strong view of the replacement Jab Director General of Police O.P. Sharma. According to the sources, Chief Minister charan Singh Brar, who is camping at Delhi, has been conveyed the feeling at the Center and “advised” to restore the status quo “in the national interest.” The state government appointed Sube Singh as the DGP after bringing about changes at the top level in the civil administrations. Sharma was shifted at a time when he was trying to provide a human face to the much maligned police force and had taken a number of steps in that direction.
According to highly placed sources, the Union Home Secretary in his note on this subject said that Sharma had been posted to Punjab keeping in view the Special situation. He expressed the apprehension of resurgence of militant activity in the state and increased interference from across the border. He said Sharma was considered to be a suitable replacement for K.P.S. Gill and the state government should have taken the Union Home Ministry i into confidence while shifting him. Sources maintained that ¢ven former Prime Minister and Congress president PV. Narasimha Rao has expressed his displeasure over this change to the Chief Minister. The appointment of the police chief is state subject and the Union Home Ministry cannot directly intervene. However, Punjab has been a special case in View of militancy and in practice; it is the Union Home Ministry which has been directing the appointment of the police chief. Sharma is on a one year extension till next October. While the state government at its own can grant extension up to six months only, one year extension is granted by the Center, In this case, Sharma was given extension against the post of DGP and technically, the State governments supposed to consult the Home Ministry in such cases, However, this was not done.
What prompted the state government to replace Sharma is indicated by the distribution of work ordered by the state home department immediately after Sube Singh’s appointment. The postings and transfers of the officers of the level of senior superintendent of police will continue to be done by the Chief Minister. However, the postings and transfers of gazetted officers of the rank of superintendent of police and the deputy superintendent of police will now be ordered by Punjab Home Minister Brij Bhupinder Singh, who is related to Brar. Earlier, the DGP held these powers. Sharma did not tolerate any interference from any quarters in the postings and transfers. The Home Minister has also been allowed the use of helicopter.
The minister will also write the annual confidential reports of the SPs and the DSPs. The promotions of the officers of these ranks will also be done by the Minister of State for Home. Significantly, the circular issued by the home department states that the Minister may call for any file from the subordinate officer for his perusal.
Sharma is on two months leave and is not inclined to take over as adviser. He met Brar in Delhi last week for a few minutes. He was to meet the Chief Minister again later but the meeting did not materialize. While the Punjab unit of the Communist Party of India has strongly reacted to some appointments made by the Brar Government, some leaders of the ruling party have also expressed reservations.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 10, 1996
