New Delhi, The Supreme Court has stayed the reinstatement of IAS officer Rinku Dhugga, who was compulsorily retired by the Centre following a controversy over the Thyagaraj Stadium being allegedly emptied so she could walk her dog.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice to Dhugga on the Centre’s challenge to the Delhi High Court judgment setting aside her compulsory retirement. It also considered an allegation concerning her unauthorised absence. Both incidents were cited in connection with the decision to compulsorily retire her.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 13. The high court subsequently upheld the CAT’s decision in its April 15 judgment.
The high court said the incident had resulted in a minor punishment in disciplinary proceedings.
These included the absence of adverse remarks in her Annual Performance Appraisal Reports , her outstanding grading in preceding years and the fact that she was being considered for promotion. Because it had failed to take into account several relevant aspects of her service record, the high court also found that the review committee’s decision recommending her compulsory retirement could not be sustained.
The high court also observed that compulsory retirement is intended to remove officers considered to be “deadwood” from the service and held that this principle was not applicable to Dhugga’s case.
