Chandigarh: In a crucial relief to HCS officer Jagdeep Dhanda, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the chargesheet filed against him by the Haryana Vigilance Bureau in the 2001-batch HCS recruitment case.
The court’s order revives the possibility of Dhanda’s promotion to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) under the state quota and has implications for several other officers entangled in the same case.
Court Seeks State’s Reply on Quashing Plea
Justice Tribhuvan Singh Dahiya issued a notice to the Haryana government, seeking its response to Dhanda’s petition seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings. The next hearing is scheduled for August 22, 2025.
Allegations and Defense
Dhanda, through his counsels, argued that he was wrongly implicated to derail his IAS prospects. He pointed to a November 2023 opinion from the Advocate General, which found the FIR irrelevant to his promotion. Acting on this legal view, the state had even issued and forwarded an integrity certificate to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The court was also informed that no concrete evidence had surfaced during the investigation to justify criminal prosecution against Dhanda.
State’s Opposition
The Haryana government, however, contested Dhanda’s claim, maintaining that his name figures as an accused in the chargesheet and thus disqualifies him from being considered for IAS promotion.
Wider Implications
This interim order could influence the standing of other similarly placed officers from the 2001 HCS batch, such as Sarita Malik, Kamlesh Kumar Bhadoo, and Kuldhir Singh, who also face charges in the same recruitment scandal.
Background of the Case
The case stems from a chargesheet filed by the Haryana Vigilance Bureau (now Anti-Corruption Bureau), accusing 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) regime.
