NEW DELH: The Union Home Ministry has reinstated two probationer IPS officers sacked last year on “compassionate” grounds.
The officers Kusum Punia (Jharkhand cadre, 2010- batch) and Kumar Gautam (West Bengal cadre,--2011-batch)---were sacked after they failed to complete the training at the National Police Academy, Hyderabad. They have now been re-inducted into the All India service and allowed to complete their training at the institute.
The decision comes after the two probationers petitioned Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to revoke their termination from service. Singh revoked their sacking on compassionate grounds and allowed them to clear their training, a senior Union Home Ministry official said.
With a number of trainees found to be physically unfit, the Union Home Ministry has also directed the Academy to ensure healthy Body Mass Index of each trainee officer so that they remain fit during training as well as on the job.
IPS probationers are confirmed as officers only after completing their training at the Academy.
During her training at the Academy, Punia was given maximum chances but she "failed" to clear re-examination and special re-examination and a test on swimming.
Besides his "failure" to clear other modules, Gautam also could not successfully complete the "cross-country" (physical exercise) test as part of the training.