Action against Fatehabad SP sends positive message: Y.P. Singh

Former IPS officer Y.P. Singh on Saturday said the action against Fatehabad Superintendent of Police Sangeeta Kalia sends a positive message to all the bureaucrats who shy away from implementing the rule of law.

"I think this sort of a transfer would certainly serve a lesson to other police officers and IAS officers who think that they have the sole prerogative to decide whether the rule of law has to be implemented or not. The Superintendent of Police and the district collector have to assume responsibility. I don't think this sort of transfer which has been done is administratively incorrect. It sends a positive message to the bureaucrats who shy away from implementing the rule of law," Singh told ANI.

"I think the minister was absolutely right in insisting that illegal sell of alcohol should be stopped by the police because police have got adequate powers to do so. If a superintendent of the police of a district says she has done lots and she cannot do anything beyond and the sell would go on," he added.

Singh further said that no minister can tolerate such arrogance, and it was right on the minister's part if he had lost his temper.

"Police have been accorded enormous powers under the law to control illegal sell of liquor and other illegal activities. It is a known fact that the cops get 'haftas' from these. If public complains and the SP says she can't do much about it, I think it is the SP, who is at fault," he added.

Singh added that to malign the minister for this is not administratively correct.

"IPS officers and other bureaucrats have with the passage of time assumed a sense of absolute complacency, protection and a sense of impunity that they can do anything and there won't be any accountability, and they will get away from that," he said.

Singh further said, "If the minister of a district is insisting on the rule of law to be followed and in that he has become a bit over zealous.I think over zealousness should be appreciated rather than to be condemned."

Earlier in the day, Sangeeta Kalia was transferred to the reserve battalion in Manesar following her verbal spat with Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij.

Vij had a verbal spat with Kalia on Friday after the former asked her to 'get out' of a meeting.

According to reports, Vij himself walked out of the meeting hall in the Panchayat Bhawan when Kalia refused to leave.

The ugly confrontation took place during a meeting of the District Grievances and Public Relations Committee.

Vij later told the media that he would bring the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister and the DGP.

He added that he would not attend any meeting in the future where the officer is present.