Ruchika case: Haryana fails to explain Rathore rise, gets HC rap

Chandigarh: The Haryana government was reprimanded by the Punjab and Haryana high court for failing to explain why former police chief SPS Rathore kept getting promotions even after the CBI had registered a molestation case against him. The court was hearing a PIL asking for a comprehensive investigation of the case.

As soon as the government counsel sought two months to reply to the PIL, saying that the chief secretary had made the request, chief justice Mukul Mudgal asked whether “the haryanachief secretary was trying to run the courts?” Mudgal then directed the counsel to file a reply by February 4.

The court also wondered how Rathore kept getting promotions while policemen with minor complaints against them were denied promotions. The chief justice gave an example of how a constable was not given promotion because a complaint was pending.

During the hearing, Rathore’s wife and counsel Abha asked whether the matter could be decided before the criminal appeal against conviction comes up for hearing.

Rathore said the contents of the writ petition and the criminal appeal filed against the conviction were related.“The pendency of the PIL before the high court would prejudice the decision in the appeal,” Abha stated.

Centre wants CBSE to act
The Centre wants the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to take action against Sacred Heart School for expelling Ruchika Girhotra. “We have got the report [indicting the school]. On the basis of the report, a notice should be sent to the school by CBSE,” HRD minister Kapil Sibal said. (PTI)