In a significant legal development, senior Rajasthan cadre IAS officer Arti Dogra has received major relief after the Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court stayed an earlier order directing an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation against her. The stay was granted within 24 hours of the initial directive issued by a single-judge bench, marking a swift judicial intervention in the case.
The Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Shubha Mehta, observed that the case did not prima facie establish grounds of corruption. The bench further noted that three separate investigations concerning the petitioner are already underway, and their outcomes are still awaited. In light of these observations, the court granted an interim stay on the ACB probe, providing immediate relief to the officer.
Currently serving as Secretary in Rajasthan’s Energy Department and also holding charge as Chairperson of state DISCOMs, Arti Dogra has been at the center of the controversy stemming from a promotion dispute. The issue traces back to a petition filed in December 2023 by Superintendent Engineer RK Meena. In his plea, Meena challenged the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) proceedings for the year 2022–23, alleging that the roster system was not properly followed despite clear guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and the Department of Personnel (DoP).
According to the petitioner, these alleged procedural irregularities resulted in the denial of his promotion to the पद of Superintendent Engineer. He further claimed that after approaching the court, three separate chargesheets were issued against him, which he described as retaliatory actions that negatively impacted his career progression.
Earlier, a single-judge bench led by Justice Ravi Chirania had taken note of the allegations and directed the CMD to submit an additional affidavit clarifying whether the roster register was being properly maintained. However, when the required details were not furnished satisfactorily, the court raised concerns over possible procedural lapses.
The single-judge bench also observed that the Discom Chairperson had allegedly withheld a decision on the petitioner’s file for several months. This delay was considered significant enough to raise suspicion, prompting the court to order an ACB investigation and direct the agency to submit its report within three months.
However, the Division Bench’s intervention has temporarily halted the probe, indicating that the matter requires further judicial scrutiny before proceeding with a corruption investigation.
Arti Dogra, a 2006-batch IAS officer, is widely regarded for her administrative competence and impactful governance initiatives. Born on July 18, 1979, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, she completed her education in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, followed by a master’s degree from Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University.
She cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her first attempt, securing an All India Rank of 56. Over the years, she has held several prominent positions, including Secretary to the Chief Minister, District Collector in Ajmer, Bikaner, and Bundi, and leadership roles in multiple public sector undertakings. Notably, she became the first woman IAS officer to serve as Managing Director of Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited.
The case continues to remain under judicial consideration, with further proceedings expected to determine the course of action in the promotion dispute and related allegations.
