LAWS(SIK)-2015-10-6

CHEZUM LEPCHA Vs. STATE OF SIKKIM

Decided On October 15, 2015
Chezum Lepcha Appellant
V/S
STATE OF SIKKIM Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Writ Petition seeks to assail the impugned Office Order bearing No.POL/AIGP/HQ/2011/03 dated 09.01.2012 and Office Order bearing No.36/PHQ/2012 dated 30.03.2012 imposing the penalty of removal of the Petitioner from service and the Office Order bearing No. 60/PHQ/12 dated 23.06.2012, reinstating the Petitioner as Sub-Inspector in the Sikkim Police Force with effect from 01.04.2012.

(2.) The Petitioner was appointed in the post of SubInspector in the Sikkim Police Force in the year 2004 along with 27 other candidates and had topped the merit list during the recruitment process. After her period of probation, she was posted as Sub-Inspector at Gyalshing Police Station, West Sikkim on 08.11.2006, where she served for 4 (four) years. During her tenure at Gyalshing Police Station, she was entrusted with more than 30 (thirty) cases, in addition to normal day to day duties, which included law and order duty, VVIP duty, monitoring and supervision of PS, etc.

(3.) The Petitioner was then transferred to Sadar Police Station, Gangtok, East Sikkim in May, 2010 and while being posted there, she was placed under suspension without any prior notice or inquiry vide Office Order dated 09.01.2012. It is stated that the order of suspension was issued after 2 (two) years from the date of her transfer from Gyalshing Police Station purportedly under sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of the Sikkim Police Force (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1989 (hereinafter referred to as "the Rules of 1989"). The order of suspension was followed by a Memorandum bearing No 61/AIGP/HQ dated 30.01.2012 containing four charges intimating her that an inquiry under Rule 7 of the Rules of 1989, was proposed to be held against her. As per the Memorandum dated 30.01.2012, ASP/CID was designated as the Inquiring Officer, under the Rules of 1989. The following were the four charges contained in the Memorandum: -