The Home Department of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has officially closed the departmental inquiry against Mr. Mohan Lal, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), who previously served as Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) in Katra. This decision follows an extensive review and recommendation process, concluding that the charges against him could not be substantiated.
The inquiry was initially initiated based on recommendations from the Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir. The charges stemmed from Mr. Lal’s alleged failure to appear as a prosecution witness in a trial related to a case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985, which led to the acquittal of the accused due to repeated non-appearances in court.
According to Government Order No. 226-Home of 2024, issued on May 22, 2024, the inquiry was conducted under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1956. The competent authority approved the initiation of the departmental proceedings on August 27, 2023, which was followed by the formal serving of the Articles of Charge to Mr. Lal on September 18, 2023.
In his defense, Mr. Lal submitted a written statement and subsequently requested an opportunity for a personal hearing, which was granted on November 23, 2023. During the hearing, Mr. Lal contended that he had responded to the notices he received but was not informed of subsequent hearings. Examination of his defense revealed he had only been served two notices, to which he responded appropriately, and there was no further communication summoning him for additional court appearances.
The review concluded that due to these procedural gaps, the alleged misconduct could not be established. Consequently, the charges against Mr. Lal were deemed unsubstantiated, leading to the recommendation for the closure of the inquiry. This recommendation received approval from the General Administration Department, as stated in their communication dated March 18, 2024.
The official closure of the inquiry under Rule 33 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Rules signifies that Mr. Mohan Lal, who is currently serving as Staff Officer (SO) to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Railways, J&K, is cleared of the charges. The Home Department has advised that any further necessary actions in this matter should be undertaken accordingly.
