Odisha Home Dept clueless about IPS DS Kutey’s reposting!

IPS officers Ashish Singh and DS Kutey had faced the ire of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on the charges of ‘undue influence on the 2024 General Elections machinery.’ Later, the ECI revoked the suspension of senior IPS officer DS Kutey and directed the Odisha government to take appropriate action against Singh for misrepresentation of facts about his health. 

Following the conclusion of the election, Singh was transferred and posted as OSD (Officer on Special Duty) Home Department a couple of days back. However, there has been no information regarding the reposting of Kutey. Now, questions are being raised whether the transfer is an action against the official? Why the government is paying salaries to some IPS officers without any work?

The ECI has revoked the suspension of senior IPS officer DS Kutey on June 6 with the condition that other directions given by ECI will continue as per the rules applicable. Kutey was also asked to report to the Chief Secretary Odisha for further posting, as deemed fit. However, the Home Department is still clueless about the reposting of Kutey. Meanwhile, the Police Headquarters website is still showing that Kutey is working as the Special Secretary of the Chief Minister. While information about Singh’s transfer as OSD of the Home Department a couple of days back has been updated, questions are being raised on why the department is oblivious about the revocation of suspension and reposting of Kutey? No comments in this regard were received from the department.

Meanwhile, in response, former Chief Secretary Sahadev Sahoo said, “No action has been taken and no inquiry has been done into the incident which is not justified.”

More importantly, the number of Officers on Special Duties (OSDs) is gradually increasing in the Home Department and these people are getting paid without any work. Apart from Singh, 1989-batch IPS and DG rank officer SM Narvane and 1995-batch IPS and IG rank officer Ritu Arora have also been reposted as OSDs in the Home Department. 

When many IPS posts are lying vacant in the State, why the government is reposting the officials as OSD unnecessarily? If the officials are resorting to any kind of unfair activities, is it justified to transfer them instead of taking action?

“As their works were not appreciated, it doesn’t mean that they should be posted as OSD and paid salaries from the public money. They should be given other responsibilities as many IPS posts are lying vacant in the State,” said former police IG Batakrushna Tripathy.