Gandhinagar, Aug 13: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought the Prime Minister's intervention to stop what he called 'blatant interference' from Union Ministers especially Home Minister in 'encouraging indiscipline among some delinquent police officers of Gujarat cadre'.
In a letter to Prime Minister, Modi said that Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday made a statement regarding some police officers of Gujarat Cadre.
'This is the second time that Union Home Minister has intervened in favour of such police officers and was thus encouraging indiscipline. Some other Senior Ministers of the Union Cabinet have also made similar statement before the media. These statements are strictly against the Centre-State relationship protocol and a dangerous threat to the Federal set up of Indian governance', wrote Modi in his letter.
Modi said when the Centre comes out in open supporting what he called "such indisciplined conduct" of All India Service Officers then it should be a matter of concern for the entire nation.
"In other words, one is indirectly encouraging the political activities by Service Officers. Such blatant interference from the Centre will destroy the very fabric of Federal structure", writes Modi.
Modi alleged that thee seemed to be a definite pattern of conspiracy in "meddling" with Gujarat's affairs.
"Unfortunately, it appears that UPA government at the Centre is a party to these activities, in one way or other, with a strong hidden agenda to destabilize a progressive and performing State like Gujarat. I firmly believe that you cannot build a strong India by destabilizing and weakening Progressive and Development oriented States in a Federal structure", Modi writes.
At any cost, we should not convert these constitutional arms as political battle-fields by misusing them, Modi said.
Chidambaram had stated that service rules do provide for the Centre to take certain steps at a certain stage. But, it all depended on the concerned officers to invoke the situation.
"The role of the Disciplinary Authority is vested in the State Governments in the Federal structure under the All India Service Act and Rules. No authority, including the Central Government can usurp these powers. If the officers have any grievances on the issue of actions being taken by the State Government, they can represent to the State Government, or can take a legal recourse by approaching CAT, High Court, Supreme Court, etc. This position is absolutely clear with reference to the All India Service Act and Rules framed there-under by the GOI itself", writes Modi.
"Disciplinary action against Senior Officers for their misconduct and dereliction of duty are done as a matter of routine course without any intention of victimization. Even in the present cases, preliminary enquiry have been conducted and opportunity given to officers to explain their misconduct as per provisions of various statutory rules", Modi said.
"Thus, it is clear that the Centre cannot intervene in the cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the State. The police officers are to discipline the society and in discharge of their duties they are supposed to set up high standards. It is surprising that an officer who was absent from duty continuously for 10 months un-authorisedly is being defended by the Union Government. Any misconduct, dereliction of duty and recalcitrant behaviour of the officers cannot be tolerated, failing which it will lead to anarchy in Government", the letter states.
