Re-induction of cops: SC asks Guj to take call by today

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Gujarat government to take a call by tomorrow on the re-induction of N K Amin as Superintendent of Police after his retirement, observing he had serious charges against him and had spent eight years in jail.

The apex court also cited the case of former Gujarat DGP P P Pandey, who was given a promotion and three-month extension despite being out on bail in the Ishrat Jahan alleged fake encounter case. Pandey had in April offered to relinquish his office forthwith after the court's prodding.

"Either you take a call by tomorrow or we will deal with the issue. There were two serious allegations against him (Amin) and in one case he has been in jail for eight years," a bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud said. Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, supported the decision of re-induction and said he had been in jail for eight years for different reasons, but did not elaborate.

"I don't want to elaborate but he has been in jail for eight years for different reasons. He has contributed immensely towards safety and security of public," he said.

Mehta also claimed that petitioner Rahul Sharma was a retired IPS officer who had several disputes with the government and was not satisfied. He said that service matters cannot be entertained as PIL and it should be dismissed. The bench, however, said there were serious allegations against the police officers being inducted and the state government has to take a call by Thursday.

The apex court had on August 11 expressed displeasure over officers being reinducted in the Gujarat Police after their retirement.

The apex court had made the observation while hearing a petition filed by former IPS officer Rahul Sharma, who has submitted that two police officers, N K Amin and Tarun Barot, were reinducted despite serious allegations against them. While Amin has been reinducted as the superintendent of police at Tapi district in Gujarat, Barot has been made the deputy superintendent of police in the railways, his plea had said.