HC stays Gujarat's showcause notices issued to top cop Sharma

Six showcause notices issued by the Gujarat state government to Indian Police Service (IPS) official Rahul Sharma, who had put state functionaries in the dock while deposing before the 2002 riots probe panel, have been stayed by the Gujarat High Court until August 13.
A division bench of the Gujarat High Court comprising Justice Aqeel Qureshi and Justice Mohinder Pal has granted a stay over showcause notices until August 13, when the next hearing would be held in the case and issued notices to the Gujarat state government as well as its functionaries in connection with Sharma's plea.
The six showcause notices were issued to him by the Gujarat government alleging "misconduct" as an officer.

Director General of Police (DGP) PC Thakur, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home S K Nanda, Additional DGP of Armed Units Tirthraj, former DGP Chitranjan Singh and Principal Secretary to the state government Varesh Sinha and the Union of India were also served notice today over Sharma's plea.
The High Court has also asked all respondents to file their reply by August 13.
Yesterday, Sharma had moved a plea before the Gujarat High Court after the Ahmedabad bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had ,on August 6, vacated a stay over the six show-cause notices issued to him which was earlier granted by CAT in March this year.

In his petition before the High Court, Sharma alleged that the Gujarat state government's action against him was as an act with malafide intentions.
Challenging the CAT's order, Sharma contended that vacating the stay by the tribunal would allow the state of Gujarat to conduct an inquiry against him.
With the stay given today by the High Court, the state cannot inquire against Sharma with regard to the show cause notices.