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Sarabjit Singh is new Punjab DGP

Neena Chaudhryin Chandigarh

Sarabjit Singh has replaced Puran Chand Dogra as director general of police.

Singh's elevation came after the Punjab and Haryana high court yesterday upheld the decision of the Central Administrative Tribunal, quashing Dogra's extension in service.

The verdict, given by a division bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and Amar Dutt, reflects the growing resentment against service extensions. Dogra was scheduled to retire on March 31.

A 1965 Indian Police Service officer of the Punjab cadre, Singh has been serving as the additional DGP in charge of the vigilance bureau. He was among the three petitioners who had challenged Dogra's extension. Additional DGPs Jarnail Singh Chahal and M S Bhullar were the other two petitioners.

Singh's place at the vigilance bureau has been taken by Home Guards chief Sube Singh. Additional DGP K K Sharma, who was in charge of the operations of the state police, now heads the home guards.

On January 28, a double bench of the CAT quashed the September 25, 1998 order of the Union government, extending the service of Dogra beyond September 30, 1998.

The bench had asked the state government to replace Dogra in a week's time.

In May this year, the Union government had amended the All Services (Death and Retirement Benefit) Rules of 1958, doing away with Rule 16, under which the state government could extend the service of its officials. The petitioners argued that Dogra had been granted an extension despite the amendment.

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