The Telangana High Court dismissed an appeal filed by the police department challenging a single judge order dismissing its order for removal from service of a Sub-Inspector of Police, Konda Janaiah, of 2018 batch. .

A bench of the Acting Chief Justice P. Sam Koshy and Justice Narsing Rao Nandikonda said it did not find merit in the appeal. It noted the single judge’s order did not warrant any interference as the SI’s “service otherwise seems to be quite satisfactory so far as his working is concerned”.

The bench noted that the sole ground cited by the police authorities for not confirming the probation of the SI was the criminal case registered against him. The case under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code and the provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act was booked based on a complaint lodged by his wife. However, the case had not been finalised yet.

Meanwhile, the HC passed an order (in another writ petition filed by the SI) staying the departmental proceedings initiated against him following registration of the case. Yet, the higher-ups took the extreme step of not continuing the SI from service’.

There was no element of non-performance on the part of the SI. The appellants could not make out any strong case of the SI committing any misconduct during his probation period, the bench said.