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The Himachal Pradesh High Court has stayed departmental proceedings and a suspension order initiated against Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Verma, raising sharp questions over the state's decision to penalise an officer for invoking judicial remedies.
The matter pertains to SP Rajesh Verma, currently serving in the Directorate of Police Communication and Technical Services, who has repeatedly approached the court seeking the implementation of the department's 2010 Recruitment and Promotion Rules. Verma alleged that the state government was harassing him and subjecting him to disciplinary action as retaliation for raising the issue. On December 3, 2025, the state placed Verma under suspension under Rule 10(1) of the Central Civil Services (CCA) Rules, 1965, citing contemplated disciplinary proceedings. The state argued that Verma had consistently acted against departmental interests and raised settled matters regarding rules that were never officially approved by the legislature. Intervening in the matter, a bench headed by Justice Sandeep Sharma stayed the operation of the suspension order. The Court observed that while the state holds the power to suspend employees during contemplated inquiry, the alleged misconduct was not grave enough to justify suspension. The bench noted that the officer appeared to be targeted primarily for approaching a competent court of law for rule enforcement. Subsequently, in a related order passed on July 1, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel stayed the operation of the state's departmental memorandum dated January 27 restraining authorities from proceeding with the inquiry. "This Court fails to understand as to how departmental proceedings can be commenced against an employee for invoking writ jurisdiction of this Court for the redressal of his grievance," Justice Goel remarked while granting interim relief. The High Court has granted the state government six weeks to file its reply in the matter. (ANI)
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