CAT asks Centre, UP to explain IPS official's suspension

The Lucknow bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Tuesday sought response from the central and the Uttar Pradesh governments on a police officer's 91-day suspension from service.

On the petition by Indian Police Service officer Amitabh Thakur, who challenged his suspension order dated July 13, 2015, the CAT bench of Navneet Kumar and Jayati Chandra sought a response from both governments within three weeks, and fixed April 18 as the next date of hearing.

The senior IPS officer in his petition had cited Rule 3(8) of the All India Services Discipline and Appeal Rules which clearly states that every suspension order must be reviewed and suspension extended within 90 days, and if such review is not done, the suspension order stands automatically revoked.

Thakur said his suspension was extended for 180 days through an order dated December 10, 2015 -- passed 150 days after his suspension, and this delay has been condoned by the state government.

Calling all these orders illegal, Thakur prayed for getting reinstated on the 91st day since his suspension.