Himachal High Court upholds State’s Authority in IPS Officer Ilma Afroz’s transfer case

Himachalscape bureau March 4, 2025 3 minutes read

Shimla, March 4,

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the reinstatement of 2018-batch IPS officer Ilma Afroz as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Baddi, Solan district. The court ruled that the petition was not maintainable, emphasizing that the posting of an SP is a sensitive administrative matter and remains the prerogative of the state government. This decision reinforces the government’s authority over police appointments and highlights its impact on maintaining law and order in the region. The division bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja delivered the verdict on Monday, also revoking the stay on Afroz’s transfer that had been in place since September 9.

The PIL was filed by Sucha Ram, an agriculturist from Dholowal village in Baddi, who alleged that Afroz was pressured into taking leave due to political interference. According to the petitioner, Afroz had shown exemplary performance in curbing illegal mining and taking stringent action against drug mafias in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh Development (BBND) area. The petition claimed that her transfer led to a deterioration of law and order, with local police allegedly colluding with mining mafias operating 43 illegal crusher units near the Punjab-Haryana border.

Also read:PIL: Ilma Afroz remains Baddi SP pending court review

Afroz was appointed as Baddi SP on January 27, 2024. However, she proceeded on a 15-day earned leave starting November 7 amid reports of differences with Congress MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary from Doon. The leave was later extended, and Afroz returned to duty on December 16. In the interim, the charge of Baddi SP was handed over to Himachal Pradesh Police Service (HPPS) officer Vinod Kumar Dhiman on November 14. Although the PIL accused Chaudhary of influencing her leave, the MLA denied any involvement in the matter.

The legal dispute also raised concerns about the enforcement of environmental regulations, with the petitioner accusing authorities of ignoring directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the High Court regarding illegal mining operations. Despite these claims, the court maintained that the state government holds the discretion to decide officer postings based on administrative needs and operational requirements.

Also read:Himachal IPS officer Ilma Afroz on leave: Govt denies pressure, rumors

With the stay on Afroz’s transfer now lifted, the state government is free to determine her future posting. Currently, she is stationed at the State Police Headquarters in Shimla. This verdict brings an end to the legal uncertainty surrounding her position.

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