The Himachal Pradesh High Court has scheduled a hearing for February 28 regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that seeks the immediate reinstatement of IPS officer Ilma Afroz as the superintendent of police in Baddi. The PIL will be heard by a Coordinate Bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja.
Ilma Afroz, who had previously held the position, went on extended leave following an alleged altercation with a local Congress MLA. She resumed her duties at the Police Headquarters on December 16, 2024, and has since been awaiting further assignment.
The matter was brought before a division bench including Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Satyen Vaidya this Friday. During the session, it was noted that Justices Chauhan and Kukreja had previously issued a detailed order on October 23, 2024, which included specific directives and a compliance report was subsequently filed.
Given the previous involvement of the Coordinate Bench, the division bench decided it was appropriate for the same judges to oversee the continued proceedings. “In such circumstances, we deem it appropriate that the matter be heard by the same Bench on February 28,” the division bench stated in its order.
The court was also informed that directives had been issued on September 9, 2024, mandating that Afroz should not be transferred from the Police District of Baddi. However, during a previous hearing, the Additional Advocate General of the state presented an application indicating that Afroz herself had requested a transfer from Baddi.
