NEW DELHI: The Indian government has thrown to the wind all established norms in dealing with Punjab. Recently, India posted two senior officers P.S. Hurra and R.K. Sharma as additional directors-general, Police, Punjab without reference to confidential reports on them,
In fact, Hurra’s confidential report is missing from the Punjab government’s secretariat at Chandigarh while Sharma’s report is “blank” because all previous annual entries jiave been erased or paper has been pasted on the entries.
Usually, only those reports get lost which comment adversely on the conduct of an officer. It is evident that the personal record of both Hurra and Sharma has not been flattering to them.
The standing rule and practice is that no promotion is made when an officer’s personal record is tainted but in the case of police officers in Punjab such considerations as a rule are ignored, On the other hand, preference in key positions is given to officers with bad records.
Several junior level police officials with a poor record of service have been promoted and given key positions totally ignoring the rules and regulations. Hurra’s and Sharma’s come as a’ culmination of the practice rather than an exception of it, Even during J . F .Ribeiro’s rule, the practice ignoring rules and regulate not as blatant as it is today, Ri had advised Hurra to leave the State and opt for a posting at Center within one week of suming office. These were certain Charges against Hurra and the then — Governor S.S. Ray had congnisance of those charges.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1992
