Path Cleared for Reinstatement of IPS GP Singh As Supreme Court Rejects Centre’s Appeal Against CAT Order

Raipur

The Supreme Court has paved the way for the reinstatement of dismissed IPS officer GP Singh by rejecting the Centre’s appeal challenging the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). Earlier, the High Court had dismissed cases of disproportionate assets, sedition, and blackmail against Singh, deeming them politically motivated, a stance the Supreme Court upheld while granting relief.

On April 30, CAT had provided significant relief to GP Singh, directing the resolution of all pending cases and his reinstatement within four weeks. However, in July 2023, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, acting on the state government’s recommendation, had compulsorily retired him.

The High Court, led by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Agrawal, had quashed three FIRs against Singh, citing a lack of substantial evidence and terming them a means of political harassment. Following this, the Centre challenged the CAT’s decision in the Delhi High Court, which also dismissed the appeal. Subsequently, the Centre moved the Supreme Court, whose decision has now cleared Singh’s path for reinstatement.

GP Singh faced three separate cases involving allegations of disproportionate assets, sedition, and blackmail. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) initiated proceedings in 2021, claiming to have unearthed undeclared assets worth ₹10 crore. Singh was accused of conspiring to destabilize the government and spent significant time in jail before being dismissed.

In a high-profile raid in July 2021, the ACB claimed to have discovered sensitive documents and unexplained assets at Singh’s residence. These findings led to his suspension and eventual dismissal. However, Singh maintained that the allegations were politically driven, a position supported by the High Court’s findings.

During the Supreme Court hearing, Singh’s legal team, led by senior advocate PS Patwalia and assisted by advocate Himanshu Pandey, successfully argued that no evidence remained against Singh, warranting his reinstatement.

This decision not only reinstates Singh but also raises questions about the use of legal machinery for political purposes, underscoring the importance of impartial justice.