The Allahabad High Court has intervened to halt the transfer of Constable Laxmi Singh from the Excise Department, calling the move potentially malicious.
The court’s decision, issued by Justice JJ Munir, follows Singh’s petition challenging the transfer order.
The transfer, which would have relocated Singh from Varanasi to Kaushambi, has stayed pending further review.
The court has also requested a detailed response from the state government regarding the motives behind the transfer.
During the proceedings, Adarsh Singh, the Excise Commissioner of Prayagraj, filed an affidavit explaining that the department had issued a charge sheet against Singh as part of ongoing actions.
Despite this, the court noted that the reasons cited for the transfer appeared disconnected from the formal charge sheet issued against Singh.
According to court observations, the comments made about Singh’s transfer suggest a possible underlying intent of malice.
The court emphasized that, although the charge sheet is not the focus of the current petition, the execution of the transfer requires scrutiny.
The case took a notable turn on 8 July 2024, when the court directed Singh to submit a representation to the Excise Commissioner.
The department subsequently dismissed this representation.
The court found it concerning that a charge sheet was mailed to Singh on 11 July 2024, just three days after the initial court order, which seemed to indicate a reactionary and potentially punitive approach.
The court has ordered Singh to remain in his current position and continue to receive his regular salary until further notice.
Meanwhile, the court has directed the Excise Commissioner to provide additional records and clarifications in light of its concerns.
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