HC stays CAT order against appointment of DGP

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the Central Administrative Tribunal’s order nullifying the appointment of Dinkar Gupta as Punjab Director General of Police. Punjab government and Gupta had on moved the High Court against the CAT order and sought an immediate stay on the verdict. While staying the operation of CAT verdict, the high court asked the Chief Secretary to explain the criteria followed for fixing the number of officers sent for consideration to the UPSC and also the material sent to the Commission for assessment of the officers regarding their ‘range of experience’. Senior Advocate Nidesh Gupta and Punjab Advocate General Atul Nanda argued that the Tribunal has misread the judgment of Supreme Court in Prakash Singh’s case, which lays down the procedure for appointing a DGP.