Punjab & Haryana HC’s Interim Order Could Affect IAS Promotions of Other Charge-Sheeted Officers
In a significant relief for HCS officer Jagdeep Dhanda, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the chargesheet filed against him by the Haryana Vigilance Bureau in connection with the 2001-batch HCS recruitment case.
The court’s decision has reignited Dhanda’s chances of securing promotion to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) under the state quota and may also impact several other officers involved in the same case.
Court Seeks State’s Response on Quashing Plea
Justice Tribhuvan Singh Dahiya issued a notice to the Haryana government, seeking its reply to Dhanda’s petition to quash the criminal proceedings. The next hearing has been scheduled for August 22, 2025.
Allegations and Defense
Dhanda, represented by his legal counsel, argued that he was falsely implicated to obstruct his IAS promotion prospects. He cited a November 2023 opinion from the Advocate General, which deemed the FIR irrelevant to his promotion. Based on this legal opinion, the state had even issued and forwarded an integrity certificate to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The court was further informed that the investigation had not uncovered any substantial evidence to warrant criminal prosecution against Dhanda.
State’s Opposition
The Haryana government, however, opposed Dhanda’s claims, arguing that since his name appears as an accused in the chargesheet, he should be disqualified from IAS promotion consideration.
Broader Implications
The High Court’s interim order could have repercussions for other 2001 HCS batch officers facing similar charges in the recruitment case, including Sarita Malik, Kamlesh Kumar Bhadoo, and Kuldhir Singh.
Case Background
The controversy stems from a chargesheet filed by the Haryana Vigilance Bureau (now Anti-Corruption Bureau), which accused 29 individuals—including former Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) members and selected officers—of manipulating the 2001 HCS recruitment process during the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government’s tenure.
