Denied promotion, SP goes without salary for a year

For the record, R N Dahate joined the State Police Service in 1974 as a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in 1981 he was elevated as Superintendent of Police — non-cadre. In the normal course — as was the case with his other two batch mates, Dahate should have been inducted into the IPS cadre within three to four years.

Dahate however suffered adverse remarks in his confidential records on two occasions. Of these, on the first occasion, the government never responded to Dahate’s reply. Rules lay down that a no response from the State Government to such a reply, within six months, should mean that the matter is closed in favour of the officer.

On the other occasion 1991, Dahate again fought back and this time the remark was expunged.He was, in fact, conferred the Director General of Police’s insignia in January ’97.

In his desire to avoid the legal battle and public glare by going to the press, Dahate thought of ways that would allow an officer to protest without slurring the dignity of his office. He decided to go on a hunger strike on August 14.

Before taking this decision, he had made regular representations to the office of Director General of Police (Est) in the last 13 years but it was only on August 8, a week before his announced date for a hunger-strike, that he received the first ever response. He was being considered for a promotion!!

However, Dahate was determined to go ahead with his proposed hunger-strike. Dahate’s seniors could very well conjure the image of the hunger-strike — Dahate sitting under a huge pandal with the press and photographers crowding him. .Panic buttons were pressed and at least three top officials got in touch with Dahate wanting to know how he would go about his hunger-strike. However, Dahate assured his superiors that he would take care of his office duties as well as the protest. And true to his word, he was in the office all through the day but went without food.Despite all this, Dahate has no intentions of making his case a controversial one. Having married off his two daughters , Dahate, sources say, can do wihtout the salary and bank upon his savings from the 22 years of austere life-style. With five years to go before his retirement, he is confident his day will come.