India court acts in 'police scam'

A court in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has ruled that 18 senior policemen suspected of involvement in a recruitment scam cannot be arrested.

More than 10,000 police officers have been sacked during the past week over alleged irregularities in their recruitment process.

The 18 officers involved in the initial hiring process have been suspended.

The state high court made its order after they filed petitions challenging the government's action.

These 18 suspects argued that criminal cases cannot be lodged against them on the "mere possibility" of corruption and that the case against them was politically motivated.

They cited government rules saying "departmental action" should precede any criminal action.

They said that they have not been given enough opportunity to defend themselves against the charges, which were "against the principles of natural justice".

'High-handed'

On Thursday, the court stopped the state government from filling vacancies caused by the dismissal of thousands of police.

All the police were recruited during the administration of Mulayam Singh Yadav, who lost power this year.

The newly-elected chief minister, Ms Mayawati, set up an inquiry into alleged irregularities, nepotism and bribery in the selection process. But in an interview with the BBC, suspended police official BB Buxi denied that an rules were broken.

"We did our job as per the rules and the action against us is high-handed," he said.

"As the chairman of the recruitment board I was not responsible for assessing their physical fitness, or their medical examinations. This was done by another committee."

The court on Friday gave the state government 10 days to give its reply to the petitions.

The court also ruled that plans by Mayawati to fill the vacancies by a fresh selection process were unlawful.

In all, 22,000 police constables were recruited during Mr Yadav's term. He was defeated in elections in May 2007.

Officials say an investigation into the selection of an additional 12,000 police is likely to be completed by the end of this month. It is expected to have similar results.

The government says it wants to recruit new police officers within six months and the previous applicants will be allowed to appear in the new selection process.

Former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has maintained that the recruitment process is fair.

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