JAMMU: Known for hitting headlines for his controversial statements and mode of action in discharging his duties in various capacities in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in handling the traffic wing of the police organization, 2000 IPS batch officer Basant Rath became subject matter for ‘breaking news’ early morning despite the entire media attention revolving around Shiv Sena stalemate in Maharashtra and stunning crackdown on the so-called activist Teesta Seta;vad, post Supreme Court verdict on 2002 Gujarat riots.
The resignation or voluntary retirement letter posted on the social media in the wee hours at 4.20 A.M by Rath, a hundred percent teetotaler, raises many questions, especially as he is not supposed to have been under the influence of drugs either. It may be the first such instance when the signatory puts time, instead of date, under the signatures, which if read hurriedly can be seen like 420. Hope it is not so as the senior IPS officer is expected to know what 420 stands for in IPC or erstwhile RPC.
Mired in controversies, one after another, Rath’s resignation or voluntary retirement, evoked an intense debate with some describing the offer as a gimmick and many dismissing it as yet another to remain in the limelight after having been sidelined and suspended by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2020 for alleged ‘gross misconduct’. His intention of entering electoral politics may have some credence but tweeting that it will be the BJP he may join must be a jibe. Joining the BJP and basing his politics on the Kashmir turf are like South Pole and North Pole meeting on the frozen Dal Lake.
The question now arises whether the resignation of Basant Rath would be accepted by the competent authority? If not, should it be construed that the controversial cop is treading the path of Shah Faesal to hog headlines, embark on a political misadventure and then return back to the cadre, making mockery of the system. In the first instance there seems little scope for his resignation being accepted, as he is reportedly awaiting disciplinary action and is currently under suspension.
The resignation of an officer of any of the three All-India Services is governed by Rules 5(1) and 5(1)(A) of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958. All-India Services includes: IAS, the Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS). There are similar rules for resignation of officers belonging to the other central services as well. When an officer prefers resignation, it has to be clear and unconditional. Resignation from service is entirely different from accepting the government’s Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). Those who take VRS are entitled to pension, whereas those who resign are not. In case of the officer on State deputation, the resignation is to be submitted to the Chief Secretary of the State (in the instant case the Union Territory). The process after the resignation begins with the State or the UT checks to see if any dues are outstanding against the officer, as well as the vigilance status of the officer or whether any cases of corruption etc. are pending against him/her. In case there is such a case, the resignation is normally rejected. Further action is the prerogative of the Competent Authority– Minister of State at the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) in respect of the IAS The Minister for Home Affairs in respect of the IPS, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change in respect of the Forest Service. As Minister in Charge of the DoPT, the Prime Minister makes decisions regarding the IAS. Inspector General Police Basant Rath has resigned from the Indian Police Service (IPS) but not elaborated the reasons beyond indicating that he will join electoral politics in Kashmir. Posted on social media his resignation letter early this morning, he wrote “Politics is a noble profession.
Basant Rath, presently posted in Home Guards and Civil Defence, was placed under suspension for alleged instances of “gross misconduct and misbehaviour”, according to an order issued by the Home Ministry in July 2020. He shocked his friends early this morning at 4.20 am when he posted his resignation letter dated 25 June on social media.
“If I ever join a political party, it WILL be BJP. If I ever contest an election, it WILL be from Kashmir. If I ever join politics, it WILL be before March 6, 2024”, he wrote on social media before posting his resignation.
In the resignation addressed to the Chief Secretary of J&K, with copies endorsed to the DGP J&K Police and Commandant General, HG/CD & SDRF J&K, he wrote; “Sir, I wish to resign from the IPS in order to be able to participate in electoral politics. Please consider this letter as my request for resignation/voluntary retirement and process it accordingly”.
The move comes in the wake of the Delimitation Commission finalizing its report with regard to the delimitations of the seats for the Legislative Assembly and the Lok Sabha in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the process for revising the elector al rolls about to begin.
The 50 years old Basant Rath, born in 1972 in Pipli of Puri district in Odisha, did MA in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
