In a move that has reignited a major controversy, the Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) in Hisar has reinstated its Chief Security Officer, Sukhbir Singh, nearly six months after he was suspended in connection with a lathicharge on protesting students.
Reinstatement Order and Administrative Silence
Sukhbir Singh was formally reinstated through an administrative order dated December 26 and resumed his duties on Monday. The university administration has maintained a conspicuous silence on this development. Despite repeated attempts, HAU Registrar Pawan Kumar, Vice-Chancellor B R Kamboj, and the official university spokesperson did not respond to requests for confirmation.
A History of Allegations and Controversial Career Path
Singh's return to the post has brought back into focus a long list of serious allegations concerning his appointment, promotions, and professional conduct. Critics allege that his initial entry into the university system was flawed.
It is claimed that Singh was not selected on merit for the position of Assistant Security Officer. He was allegedly appointed on an ad hoc basis to a post reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate at HAU's Kaul campus, despite belonging to the general category. This temporary six-month appointment was reportedly extended repeatedly for almost a decade before being regularized under a government policy.
Further complaints state that the eligibility norms for promotion to the Chief Security Officer post were later modified, facilitating his elevation. His ad hoc service was also allegedly counted incorrectly for this promotion.
Involvement in Serious Incidents
The officer's name is also linked to other troubling incidents. Sukhbir Singh is named in an FIR dated August 6, 2021, related to the death of young lawyer Vikas Hooda. In a more recent event on March 18, 2024, he was accused of wrongfully restraining and unlawfully detaining a faculty member in public while using intimidating language. Although a compromise was reportedly reached on April 6, 2024, no departmental disciplinary action was taken against him.
Inquiry Report Recommendations Ignored
The reinstatement decision appears to contradict the recommendations of an official inquiry conducted after the student protests. The probe was led by the then Hisar Divisional Commissioner, Ashok Garg.
The Garg report strongly recommended that the posts of Chief Security Officer and security guards at HAU should be filled by ex-servicemen. This suggestion was based on their specialized training, discipline, and experience in handling sensitive security situations.
The inquiry also highlighted a critical failure: the university administration could not provide clear information on the chief security officer's role in the lathicharge on students even after five months. The commissioner noted that this institutional inaction and indifference was a significant concern.
Beyond personnel changes, the report advised installing CCTV cameras across the campus, with careful placement in women's hostels to protect privacy. It also recommended deploying female security personnel in women's hostels.
Institutional Accountability in Question
The decision to reinstate Sukhbir Singh, without any public explanation, raises serious questions about institutional accountability and governance at HAU. It underscores the challenges in ensuring transparent administrative processes in public universities, especially when dealing with allegations of misconduct and violence against students.
