The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition seeking the removal of an inquiry officer in a police misconduct investigation, ruling that a viral video showing the officer slapping a demonstrator does not justify reassigning his duties or assuming bias in unrelated matters.
Justice Girish Kathpalia stated that public demonstrators do not have a right to damage or force entry into government institutions, emphasizing that emergency crowd-control measures cannot be used to penalize an officer without due process. The court highlighted that transferring an investigation based on an unadjudicated incident would unfairly condemn the officer prior to a hearing.
Background of the Misconduct Investigation
The legal challenge was filed by 68-year-old Zarnigar Fatima, who alleged that she was unlawfully detained at the Jafrabad police station in March 2025. Following a court directive, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Lamba was appointed to lead the administrative inquiry into her complaint.
Fatima’s attorney, M. Sufian Siddiqui, argued that her confidence in the inquiry was compromised after media coverage surfaced showing Lamba, in uniform, striking a woman during a July 20 demonstration. The protest, titled “Chalo Sansad” and organized by the Cockroach Janta Party regarding NEET examination paper leaks, resulted in departmental action against Lamba. Fatima contended that maintaining institutional integrity required transferring her case to an independent investigator.
Status of the Administrative Inquiry
Counsel representing the government authorities informed the court that the petition was moot because the probe had already concluded. Representatives stated that Fatima’s statement had been formally recorded and the case file had been transferred to the competent authority for a final determination.
In dismissing the plea, the court reaffirmed that the officer retains the right to a fair hearing and that an alleged overuse of power during high-stakes security operations does not establish bias across all assigned duties.
