SC stays Himachal HC order transferring DGP

The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed a Himachal Pradesh high court order that directed the state government to shift director general of police Sanjay Kundu in the wake of a complaint by a Palampur businessman, noting that the officer was not heard before the adverse directive was issued against him.

- Utkarsh Anand

Asking the high court to decide Kundu's plea for a recall of the December 26 order within two weeks, a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said that Kundu's transfer as principal secretary in the Ayush department shall also remain stayed until the high court decides the IPS officer's application.

"Till a decision on the petitioner's recall application, the high court order on transfer shall remain stayed. Since the petitioner's new posting is pursuant to the impugned order of the high court, no steps shall be taken," states the bench, which also included justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

The Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday gave Satwant Atwal Trivedi, the additional DGP (vigilance and anti-corruption bureau) and CID, the additional charge of DGP.