Shimla, Jan 5,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court, while hearing the ongoing case regarding IPS officer Ilma Afroz’s posting, has directed the State government and the officer to comply strictly with its previous orders. During the hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Satyan Vaida, the court reiterated that its directions are binding on all parties and that any deviation could result in contempt of court.
The court has now scheduled the next hearing for January 9, 2025, following fresh observations on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed to reinstate Ilma Afroz in her former role as SP of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN). Advocate R.L. Chaudhary, counsel for the petitioner, pointed out that the officer’s request to be posted outside BBN and the government’s subsequent decision to consider her transfer could potentially violate the court’s prior directives. He stated that, after returning from leave, she should be reinstated in her previous posting, considering the prevalence of mining and drug mafias in the industrial area. He further argued that during her tenure as police chief, the law and order situation had improved, with decisive action taken against the mafia. However, now, to remove her from her position, the government is considering posting her elsewhere in contravention of the High Court’s orders.
Advocate General Anup Rattan informed the court that the state government had received a formal request from Ilma Afroz to be assigned a new role outside the BBN region. He argued that the government, recognizing her promising career as a young IPS officer, is considering offering her a more challenging assignment elsewhere in the state.
However, Chief Justice Sandhawalia raised concerns about compliance with previous court orders. The bench questioned how the SP could seek reassignment despite the court’s earlier directions, which emphasized the need for her to remain in BBN to address critical law and order issues. The court directed the state and the officer to submit a detailed response explaining their stance.
The PIL, filed earlier, highlighted Afroz’s significant contributions during her tenure in BBN, where she tackled illegal mining and lawlessness in the industrial region. The petitioner contended that her transfer and the appointment of a junior officer in her place undermined public trust and effective law enforcement in the area.
The court’s latest remarks underscore its insistence on adherence to judicial orders, warning that any disregard would amount to contempt. As the matter progresses, the January 9 hearing will likely focus on the government’s rationale for considering Afroz’s reassignment and whether such actions align with the court’s directive to prioritize public interest and effective policing in BBN.
