Delhi HC stays the appointment of IPS officer SK Bhagat as the head of RPF [Read Order]

The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed the appointment of the Director General of the Railway Protection Force on a petition moved by the RPF Association against appointment of ‘outsiders’ into the Force by way of deputation.  The Central Government has been making appointments to higher posts in the RP Force by way of deputation of IPS officers instead of promoting eligible and competent officers from within the Force. The RPF has had IPS Officers as its Director General  since the inception of the Force and no Officer from within the RPF has been appointed to a post higher than the Inspector General despite an amendment to the Act prohibiting deputation into the Force..

It was contended by the Association that deputation of officers into the Force is not permitted after the amendment to the Railway Protection Act in 1985. Despite the coming into force of the amendment, the RPF rules were not amended to bring the same in consonance with the Amended Act and deputation continued under shelter of these rules.

On a petition filed by the RPF Association through Mehta & Singhvi Law Offices, a Division Bench comprising of Hon’ble Justice Gita Mittal and Hon’ble Justice I.S.Mehta upon being satisfied that there is a prima facie case for grant of interim orders, inter-alia, stayed the appointment of Shri. S.K.Bhagat, IPS Officer to the post of Director General RPF.

Mr. Kailash Vasdev, Sr. Advocate appeared for the Association, assisted by Ms. Ekta Mehta and Mr. Shreyans Singhvi, Advocates.

Read the order here.