Jammu: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday ordered premature retirement of suspended IPS officer Basant Rath.
Last month, Union home ministry had extended the suspension of Basant Rath for another six months.
Basant Rath was first suspended in July 2020 for what was described as “repeated instances of gross misconduct and misbehaviour”.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 16(3) of the All India Services (Death-Cum -Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, the President in consultation with the UT Division, Ministry of Home Affairs hereby requires Shri Basant Kumar Rath, IPS (AGMUT: 2000), a member of the Indian Police Service borne on the AGMUT cadre, to retire in public interest with immediate effect by giving three months’ pay and allowances in lieu of notice,” read an official order.
As per the rules, Rath will receive three months’ pay and allowances in lieu of notice. This sum will be equivalent to the aggregate amount of his pay and allowances for the same duration, calculated at the rate he was drawing before the date of the retirement order.
A day before, Rath has written to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, urging President Droupadi Murmu to dismiss him from the service.
In his letter to the J&K Chief Secretary, Rath wrote, “Please forward my representation to the esteemed office of Honourable President and Supreme Commander of India, in which I’ve requested her to invoke her powers as the Executive Head of the Union under Article 311 of the India’s Constitution and dismiss me from the service.”
Taking to social media, the suspended IPS officer wrote that he was booked three years ago in Srinagar, adding that no police officers have ever turned to him despite several emails by him to the ADG, Kashmir zone. “I have allegations, one that I am Anti Indian, but no one has turned up for questioning me. I even requested the President of India to dismiss me from the service,” he posted. Questioning the alleged failure of the police force, he asked why the current chief of the Jammu and Kashmir police is unable to stop the drug menace in the region, which is probably coming from Punjab. Rath further warned the authorities to file a defamation case against him if the allegations levelled by him are proved to be false.
Dear Station House Officer, Gandhinagar, Jammu, if anyone harms my life, limbs and reputation, please lodge an FIR against Ajay Bhalla IAS (Union Home Secretary), Dilbagh Singh IPS (son of Balbir Singh) and Nagar Singh alias Nago.
Dilbagh Singh IPS (son of Balbir Singh) happens… https://t.co/9x6Zxm24me
— Basant Rath (@KangriCarrier) August 8, 2023
The first information report (FIR) against Rath was registered on September 2, 2020, by Srinagar police reads, “The accused person also by virtue of all evidence available prima facie looks to be a vital part of this anti-national murderous network operating from Pakistani soil with hundreds of conduits operating within UT of Jammu & Kashmir.” The FIR was registered on the directions of the court after complainant Suneem Ahmed Khan moved court against Rath.
