The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Monday rejected the petition filed by IPS officer and former Punjab DGP VK Bhawra challenging the appointment of IPS Gaurav Yadav as the Director General of Police (DGP). This came as a big relief for IPS Gaurav Yadav.
What is the controversy?
This controversy started after IPS VK Bhawra went on a 2-month long leave post seeking central deputation and IPS Gaurav Yadav was appointed as the officiating DGP of the state. Following his posting, a petition was filed by Bhawra in CAT. In the petition, Bhawra claimed that UPSC rules were tampered to make Gaurav Yadav DGP. As per reports, this matter had been in discussion at CAT for about a year.
In the petition, VK Bhawra had made the Union Home Ministry, Punjab Government and UPSC as involved parties. Bhawra said in his petition that he was “pressurised to relinquish the charge” by the government. In the petition, Bhawra said he is a 1987-batch IPS officer and has unblemished service records of more than 35 years.
Bhawra had alleged in his petition that neither a panel of officers were sent to UPSC for Gaurav Yadav’s appointment as DGP nor has Gaurav Yadav been appointed on the approval of the panel. He had also questioned the seniority of Gaurav Yadav. Gaurav Yadav is a 1992 batch IPS officer which means there are other officers more senior to him, Bhawra claimed.