Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 29: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed adverse remarks recorded in the Annual Performance Appraisal Report (APAR) of a senior CRPF officer, terming them biased and actuated by mala fides, while directing authorities to review his promotion.
Justice M A Chowdhary, pronouncing judgment, held that the officer, Vikas Choudhary, 44, 2 I/C at Range HQ, CRPF Hiranagar, had been unfairly graded “Good” in his APAR for 2018-19 due to personal hostility from his superiors. The Court directed the Union of India and CRPF leadership to expunge the adverse entries and convene a review Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) to consider his case for promotion to the rank of Commandant, with retrospective effect if his juniors have already been promoted.
Choudhary, a recipient of the Police Medal for Gallantry and commendations for anti-naxal operations, alleged that his Commandant, Manish Kumar Meena, and DIG, S.K. Mishra, downgraded his report in retaliation for his refusal to participate in corrupt practices. His APARs before and after this period reflected consistent “Very Good” or “Outstanding” gradings.
The Court found glaring procedural violations, noting that the Accepting Authority who approved the downgraded APAR had supervised the officer for only 44 days, far short of the mandatory 90-day requirement under CRPF Standing Orders. The Judge observed that instead of mentoring their subordinate, the superior officers acted with “vindictiveness and malice, even preparing documents to ruin the petitioner’s career”.
A Court of Inquiry has already been ordered into allegations of corruption against Commandant Meena. While refraining from recommending further action, the High Court emphasized that the officer’s professional reputation must be restored and his career progression reconsidered.
With this judgment, the Court not only cleared the officer’s record but also paved the way for his promotion with all consequential benefits from the date his juniors were elevated.
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