HC directs state to reinstate Lohar brothers

Mumbai, Aug 10 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the state government to reinstate the controversial Lohar brothers, solely on the ground that the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) violated principles of natural justice while withdrawing recommedations to absorb them in state police service as deputy superintendents.

While deciding petitions filed by the brothers Sunil, Manoj and Nitin, a division bench of Justice R M S Khandeparkar and Justice D G Karnik ruled that the MPSC violated principles of natural justice as no hearing was granted to them during the proceedings of internal inquiry.

The court observed in its judgement that though notices were served on all the petitioners--the three Lohar brothers, after completion of internal inquiry, neither they were served with chargesheets nor hearing was granted to them. Even the proceedings of internal inquiry were not made available to them.

The court has given six weeks time to the state government to reinstate the brothers on the posts, they were holding on the date of termination.

Of the three sons of former Additional Director General of Police Prabhakar Lohar, Manoj was first to find place in the Maharashtra police force on June 26, 1992. Nitin was appointed on February 24, 1998 whereas Sunil, the eldest of them all, was appointed as late as July 20, 2001. All of them were terminated by the state government on January 24 last year after the MPSC withdrew its recommendations to appoint them as Deputy Superintendents of Police.

Later, Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal upheld orders of MPSC as well as the state government.

UNI