Calcutta HC Reinstates RPF Trooper Fired Over Facebook ‘Mutiny’ Post

Quick Summary:

• The Calcutta High Court reversed the dismissal of an RPF constable accused of writing a Facebook post in 2018 that allegedly praised a colleague for killing a senior officer during elections in Meghalaya and warned of “mutiny.”
• the court ruled the constable did not receive a fair disciplinary hearing and ordered proper proceedings to be conducted within eight weeks.
• The constable, who had been posted at Purulia under South Eastern Railway, had denied posting the comments and challenged his 2018 dismissal under Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury’s bench.
• RPF alleged his comments spread hatred among ranks, while its senior advocate argued immediate action was necessary to avert potential “hooliganism.” The court rejected this as grounds for bypassing standard inquiry procedures.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The Calcutta HC’s decision underscores the importance of due process in dealing with serious disciplinary actions involving public servants. While maintaining order and discipline is pivotal for paramilitary forces like the RPF, hasty punitive measures without proper inquiries can undermine fairness and erode trust within institutions. This ruling may set precedent reinforcing procedural correctness over expediency when handling sensitive allegations in public service roles. Moreover, ensuring justice while balancing institutional integrity is meaningful as india grapples with growing polarization even within professional ranks.

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