New Delhi: The Uttarakhand Police have dismissed a constable on grounds of “violating standards of discipline, integrity, and service conduct” after he attended the students’ protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in the national capital last month.
The personnel, Sher Singh, was posted as a constable with the Pithoragarh police and was dismissed from service upon the conclusion of departmental proceedings, Pithoragarh Superintendent of Police Akshay Prahlad Konde told ThePrint.
Sher Singh was in the headlines after he handed over his badge to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on the protest stage at Jantar Mantar on 24 July.
“In accordance with the Uttarakhand Police’s zero-tolerance policy, constable Sher Singh, posted in Pithoragarh district, has been dismissed from police service following strict departmental action for violating standards of discipline, integrity, and service conduct,” Konde said in a statement.
He added that a review of the available service records and findings of department proceedings showed that Singh’s action “constituted serious misconduct under the Uttarakhand Police Act, 2007, and violated the provisions of the Uttarakhand State Employees’ Conduct Rules, 2002”.
“The Uttarakhand Police has clarified that no deviation from departmental discipline, service conduct, or lawful procedure will be tolerated. Every police officer and employee is expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity, discipline, and accountability. Strict and impartial action, in accordance with the rules, will continue to be taken against any personnel who violate these standards,” the SP added in his statement.
In his interaction with Dipke and the thousands present at the protest site, Sher Singh had claimed he had resigned from service. “This is Bhagat Singh’s country and revolution comes from ideas, and ideas never die,” Singh had said from the stage, adding that he had resigned from service 15 days earlier.
The Uttarakhand Police were quick to issue a rebuttal—that Singh was already facing suspension for not appearing for duty after the conclusion of his approved leave and that the Pithoragarh SP had sought an explanation from him.
Kumaon Range Inspector General of Police Nivedita Kukreti released a statement saying that Singh had been absent from duty since 28 June. Additionally, the IGP said Singh had been previously arrested in a case involving land encroachment in Haridwar and was later released on bail.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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