Trending

J&K DGP Warns IPS Rath on ‘Illegal, Unbecoming Conduct’

February 24, 2018

As controversy spirals over the style of functioning of a senior Indian Police Service officer, Director General of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Shesh Paul Vaid has warned Inspector General (Traffic), Basant Rath, ‘against violation of the service conduct rules, operating without uniform, hurling abuses, and manhandling commuters.’

In an official communication – dated 22 February – accessed by The Quint, DGP Vaid has cautioned IGP Traffic that “action under law” would be initiated against him if he did not desist from violating the service conduct rules on the streets.

A number of videos, posts and pictures are being circulated on social media, in which you are seen moving in civvies on the roads, doing strange activities unwarranted of a police officer. Other videos uploaded by some commuters allege manhandling, using of abusive language and damage to their property like cell phones, helmets, spectacles and vehicles.

DGP Vaid, in the letter received by the office of Basant Rath, IGP Traffic, on 22 February

‘Illegal Conduct, Unbecoming of a Police Officer’

“These are not only illegal, they are unbecoming of a Police Officer and also utter violation of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, Rule 3 Section 1(vi), Rule 3 Section 2A and Rule 3 Section 2B (x),” the DGP added in the letter.

“The J&K Motor Vehicle Act 1988 clearly states that no officer shall do any checking of any vehicle without proper uniform. These acts of yours are bringing disrepute and bad name to the Police Organization,” he added.

DGP Vaid goes on to warn the IPS officer:

‘You are hereby advised and warned to refrain from such acts in future. You shall always remain in proper uniform while discharging official duties as mandated in law and Police Rules. Any violation to these directions shall be viewed seriously and action under law shall be initiated against you.’

According to the report by The Quint “over a dozen senior IPS officers have either met or written to the top government functionaries in the last ten days and complained to them, that one of their colleagues’ behaviour and style of functioning was bringing a “bad name” to the whole police force, and tarnishing the image of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

These officers are understood to have approached, among others, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Secretary Bharat Bhushan Vyas, Principal Secretary Home Raj Kumar Goyal, besides the DGP”.

Additional DGP Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Abdul Gani Mir, a man who is said to be a role model and mentor for many youth from J&K who have entered the All India Services with his guidance, has also presented a letter of concern to the DGP.

In his letter No: CID/SML/SR/2018/124 dated 15 February, ADG CID has informed DGP that IGP Traffic Basant Rath was “increasingly” posting content regarding day-to-day functioning, and plans as a supervisory officer of traffic police in Jammu and Kashmir, on his Facebook and Twitter handle.

Some of the posts floated by the officer are more or less like warnings to ranks and file of Jammu and Kashmir police organisation and in one way or the other way tend to reflect a bad image and bring bad name of the organisation. –ADG CID in the letter to DGP Vaid

Notwithstanding tell-tale signs of embarrassment in the top corridors of power, IPS and IAS cadre, politicians, and civil society are divided over Mr Rath’s actions and ways of working. Many of his posts on Twitter and Facebook have been widely appreciated, first in Jammu, and now in Kashmir.

‘Illegal Conduct, Unbecoming of a Police Officer’

(Originally posted by The Quint)