MHA calls 3 West Bengal IPS officers to serve in central deputation

The Ministry of Home Affairs ordered three IPS officers of West Bengal to serve in the central deputation, days after the alleged security lapses during BJP chief JP Nadda's visit to the state, reports ETV Bharat's senior reporter Gautam Debroy.

New Delhi:A year after Kolkata police commissioner Rajiv Kumar was asked to join central deputation after he participated in a protest with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Union Home Ministry on Saturday asked three more Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from the state to come to Delhi on Central deputation.

They have been asked to join central deputation over the alleged lapses in BJP president JP Nadda's security in Kolkata.

Sources said that Diamond Harbour Superintendent of Police Bholanath Pandey, South Bengal ADG Rajeev Mishra and Presidency Range DIG Praveen Tripathy were in charge of security arrangements of the visiting BJP president to the state recently.

"The three IPS officers who were responsible for arranging security during JP Nadda's West Bengal visit have been given central deputation by the MHA. The state government have already been intimated about this," a home ministry official said.

It was in February last year, Home Ministry called Kolkata police commissioner Rajiv Kumar, a 1989 IPS officer, on central deputation after he set in a dharna (in uniform) in Kolkata with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Later, he was appointed as principal secretary in the department of information, technology and electronics by West Bengal government in December last year.

According to the Rule 6 of the IPS (Cadre) Rules, 1954, a cadre officer with the concurrence of the state government or the state government concerned and the central government, be deputed for service under the central government or another state government or under a company or association or body of individuals whether incorporated or not.

Officials said that the central government can call the central service officers on central deputation and they may also face some disciplinary action.

When contacted, senior IPS officer and retired director general of Uttar Pradesh police Prakash Singh said that the centre can definitely call the officers on the central deputation.

"Centre has all right to call for central deputation whereas the officers are deputed in states under state quota," Singh told ETV Bharat.

He further said that as the IPS officer are central service officers, DoPT and MHA are the cadres controlling authority.

"The IPS officers are allotted to states. The officers are posted on state deputation. However, a state government can also refuse the call by the central government for central deputation citing genuine reasons," Singh said, adding "Centre can also take actions against such officers in the later stage."

Significantly, following the incidents of attack on BJP president and other leaders, the Home Ministry has also asked West Bengal chief secretary Alapan Bandipadhay and Director General of Police Virendra to come to Delhi over the deteriorating law and order situation of the state.