1997 Supreme(All) 1193
HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
D.K.Seth
RAJVEER SINGH
Versus
STATE OF U P
Decided On : 01 October 1997
C. M. W. P No. 32350 of 1997
R.NARAYANA,
The Inspector General (Zone) is competent to pass the order of transfer within the zone, as per Regulation 520 of the Police Regulation, which prevails over Regulation 1-A(i) in case of any contradiction.
Headnote:
POLICE TRANSFER - REGULATION 1-A AND REGULATION 520 - INTERPRETATION - INTER-REGIONAL TRANSFER - COMPETENCY OF INSPECTOR GENERAL (ZONE) - MEDICAL GROUNDS FOR TRANSFER - CONSIDERATION.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, a police officer, challenged an order transferring him from Ghaziabad to Garhwal region on the grounds that the transfer was from one region to another and could only be done by the Inspector General of Police (Headquarter) as per Regulation 1-A(i) of the Police Regulation, and that his life would be in danger if he was transferred to a hill region due to his ailment.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that Regulation 1-A(i) and Regulation 520 of the Police Regulation should be read together and reconciled, and that Regulation 520, which deals specifically with transfer, prevails in case of any contradiction between the two provisions. The court found that the Inspector General (Zone) was competent to pass the order of transfer within the zone, as the zone consisted of several regions and the transfer was within the zone.
Issues: 1. Whether the Inspector General (Zone) was competent to pass the order of transfer from one region to another region, as per Regulation 1-A(i) and Regulation 520 of the Police Regulation. 2. Whether the petitioner's medical condition warranted a transfer to a non-hill region.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. Regulation 1-A(i) and Regulation 520 of the Police Regulation should be read together and reconciled, with Regulation 520 prevailing in case of any contradiction. 2. The Inspector General (Zone) is competent to pass the order of transfer within the zone, as the zone consists of several regions and the transfer was within the zone. 3. The petitioner's medical condition should be considered by the Inspector General (Zone) before finalizing the transfer.
Final Decision: The court disposed of the writ petition, holding that the Inspector General (Zone) was competent to pass the order of transfer within the zone. The court directed the petitioner to make a suitable representation to the Inspector General (Zone) within three weeks, who would then consider the petitioner's medical condition and decide whether to transfer him to a non-hill region.
The order of transfer dated 5-6-1997 contained in Annexure-3 to the writ petition, is under challenge.
2. Mr. Rajendra Narayan, learned Counsel for the petitioner, assails the order impugned on the grounds, firstly, that the transfer being a transfer from one region to another region, it is to be done only by the Inspector deneral of Police (Headquarter) in view of Regulation I-A (i) and therefore Inspector General (Zone) is incompetent to pass the said order of transfer in view of the said regulation; secondly, that the petitioner was originally posted in Oarhwal Region and on his application on the ground of his ailment, he was transferred to plain at Ghaziabad, In case he is again trans ferred to Garhwai region as has been sought to be done by the impugned order, his life would be in danger. Certain medical certifi cates have been relied on by the petitioner in support of this contention. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is prepared to go on transfer any where in the State of U. P. except to any hill region.
3. Mr. D. R. Choudhery, learned Addl. Chief Standing Counsel on the other hand, contends that Regulation 1-Ahas to be read with Regulation 520 of the Police Regula tion. In view of Regulation 520, it is the Inspector General (Zone) who is com petent to affect inter-regional transfer. Ac cording to him, there is no infirmity in the order impugned and the order is by the authority competent to do so. In regard to second point, Mr. Choudhery submits that if suitable representation is made by the petitioner in this regard, the same may be considered by the authority concerned.
4. After having heard learned Counsel for the parties, it appears that by virtue of Regulation 1-A of the Police Regulation, certain powers were given to Additional In spector General. The said provision con tains that Addl. Inspector-General shall have power to transfer non-gazetted officers of the region under them. The inter-region transfer will be done at the Police Head Quarter level. The said regulation pre-sup-poses that the Additional Inspector General was Incharge of the region and they could transfer officers intra region, but inter-region transfer was to be made by the Police Headquarter. Now on account of phenomenal increase of the post, change in administrative set up and allocation of busi ness having been effected, the post of In spector General is now being held by Direc tor General of Police, who is over all in-charge of the whole force, whereas Inspec tor General has been entrusted with dif ferent zones consisting of certain regions. It is admitted by the learned Counsel for parties that a zone consists of several regions and the transfer is within the zone, then it cannot be said that the Inspector General is not competent to pass the order in view of Regulation l-A (i ). Police Headquarter was used in the said regulation at a point of time when the Additional Inspector General was Incharge of the region. Be that as it may, Regulation 1 -A cannot be read independent of Regulation 520 contained in Chapter 34, which deals with transfer. A particular Chapter having been assigned for a par ticular purpose namely transfer, the same would prevail, if there is any contradiction in between the two provisions, though in my view there is no contradiction in the said two provisions. If the two provisions are recon ciled and read together, in that event as it appears from Regulation 520, there is no difference in between. In Regulation 520 same situation subsists namely it proceeds on the basis that Inspector General is In charge of the whole force. Regulation 520 prescribes that Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, Head Constables and Constables within the range can be transferred by the Deputy In spector General of the Range. Both the counsel admit that range and region are synonym. Deputy Inspector General is In charge of a region and is serving under In spector-General of the zone, under whom there are ce