Contempt Against Prakash Singh's Judgement: SC Impleads Interim/Acting DGP Neeraj Sinha As Party In Contempt Case Over DGP'S Appointment

The Supreme Court on Friday impleaded interim/ acting DGP, Jharkhand, Neeraj Sinha as a party in the contempt petition seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against State of Jharkhand for willfully and deliberately disobeying Top Court's direction passed in Prakash Singh's judgement ("Judgement") on police reforms and against UPSC for its failure to prepare panel for appointment of DGP. The matter was heard by the bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice AS Bopanna. On July 14, 2021, the bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Hrishikesh Roy had issued notice to the State of Jharkhand and UPSC. "Let notice be issued to the respondents in the matter returnable after three weeks," the Top Court had noted in its order. Filed by Rajesh Kumar through Advocate Pranav Sachdeva (standing counsel for State of Chattisgarh), the plea stated that the Jharkhand Government headed by Hemant Soren removed the incumbent DGP KN Chaubey who was appointed on May 31, 2019. "Relieving Mr KN Chaubey from the responsibilities of DGP before completion of his two years tenure, appointment of Mr MV Rao on ad hoc basis as the acting DGP was in clear violation of the Court's judgment passed in Prakash Singh's case," the contempt petition had stated. The petitioners had also averred that the State of Jharkhand had further aggravated its wilful, deliberate and gross contempt of the Top Court's judgement by again appointing another person Mr Neeraj Sinha as an interim/ acting DGP on February 11, 2021. Instances of State of Jharkhand requesting UPSC to form a panel for selection for appointment of regular DGP, Jharkhand for compliance with the judgement and UPSC's disinclination of accepting State's request were also mentioned in the plea to further substantiate contempt on UPSC's end. "Vide UPSC's letter, dated September 4, 2020 addressed to the State of Jharkhand, the UPSC stated that without any specific direction from this Hon'ble Court, UPSC cannot accept the State of Jharkhand's request for preparation of fresh panel for selection for appointment to the post of DGP (HoPF) Jharkhand," the contempt petition had stated. Case Title: Rajesh Kumar v. Sukhdev Singh & Anr.Click Here To Read/ Download The Petition

Contempt Against Prakash Singh's Judgement: SC Impleads Interim/Acting DGP Neeraj Sinha As Party In Contempt Case Over DGP'S Appointment

Shruti Kakkar

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