By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: After running from pillar to post to get his promotion, finally, Satish Gajbhiye, an IPS officer of 2002 batch of Odisha cadre, hailing from Maharashtra’s Nagpur, is now hoping to get his due rank of IGP, as like his batch mates like S Praveen Kumar, IGP(Personnel), Narasingha Bhol, IGP(NCR-In-Charge, PTC, Angul )and IGP(CID-CB) Amitendra Nath Sinha.
Since his suspension when served as Kendrapara SP and after revocation of it, the Nagpur born IPS officer Gajbhiye has been running from Odisha Administrative Tribunal to Central Administrative Tribunal to Odisha High Court, to get his promotion and rank. Since August 19, 2020, IPS officer Gajbhiye has been working as Principal UP-TTI Bhubaneswar.
The a bench of Justice S. Panda, Justice S. K. Panigrahi of Odisha HC had directed the Central government to provide all the promotions and benefits retrospectively to Gajbhiye as similar to his batch mates within a month from today.
Earlier, the State Home Department had alleged that during Gajbhiye’s tenure as the Malkangiri SP ,a hardcore Maoist was arrested on 25.07.2007. Thereafter, an amount of Rs 3.55 lakh was sanctioned and remitted to Gajbhiye for making payment of Rs 1.55 lakh to six police personnel who were actually involved in the arrest as reward. The specific reward amount of each of these police personnel was indicated and the balance amount to be paid to civilian informers.But the police personnel alleged non-receipt of the reward amount. Following this, the Director-Cum-ADG (Intelligence) directed DIG (Intelligence), Sanjeeb Panda to inquire the matter to find out as to whom the money has been disbursed. A detailed preliminary inquiry report was also sought by 30.08.2011.
“A proceeding which is not initiated in lawful manner sans the avowed principles of natural justice cannot be a just proceeding and is void ab initio. This writ petition is allowed accordingly. Consequently, the Opposite Parties are directed to confer all the promotions and benefits appurtenant thereto retrospectively to the petitioner vis-a-vis his batch mates within a month from today,” said the HC order.
Gajbhiye then approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, Cuttack primarily on the ground of lack of jurisdiction seeking quashing of the proceeding. His petition was then transferred to Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi. After hearing the parties, the Bench of the CAT, New Delhi dismissed the IPS officer’s petition.
The court directed the Opposite Parties to confer all the promotions and benefits appurtenant thereto retrospectively to the petitioner vis-a-vis his batch mates within a month .Gajbhiye, an Odisha cadre IPS officer belonging to 2002 batch, is reportedly facing 3 disciplinary proceedings for which the State government has withheld his promotion. He is still a SP-ranked officer and serving as principal of Urban Police and Traffic Training Institute, Bhubaneswar though he would have been promoted to the Inspector General (IG) rank by now.Recently, the IPS officer had urged the Odisha government to drop all charges against him and sought promotion retrospectively.
