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Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH, Sept 17: Haryana’s former IAS officer R S Malik today challenged the appointment of retired IPS officer S H Mohan as State Vigilance Commissioner in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
A division bench of the court comprising Justice R S Mongia and Justice S S Sudhalkar after taking up the case adjourned the same to October 7 for further hearing.
Malik, as general secretary of the Public Interests Society, had challenged Mohan’s appointment on July 1, 1998, as State Vigilance Commissioner, after creation of a temporary post, since it amounted to denial of promotion of state-cadre IPS officers, who were to be posted as Director of State Vigilance Bureau. Besides, it was also alleged that Mohan was given the same powers as he enjoyed before his superannuation on June 30, 1998.
Malik also alleged in his petition that state Chief Minister Bansi Lal had abused his official powers in creating a temporary post for Mohan, whose case for extension beyond June 30, 1998 as recommended by the state government, was rejected by the Government of India. Alleging in his petition that the appointment of Mohan was made without following the prescribed rules and regulations and was thus violative of Article 16 of the Constitution, Malik has sought striking down of the same “as it served no public interest and was mala fide”.
