Lawyer Anura Singh wins court battle, reinstates constable dismissed by IPS father

In a rare and extraordinary turn of events, the Allahabad High Court has reinstated a police constable dismissed by then Bareilly Range Inspector General (IG) Rakesh Singh — in a case argued by none other than the officer’s own daughter, advocate Anura Singh.

The case centres around Constable Taufiq Ahmad, who was removed from service on January 13, 2023, following grave allegations of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old woman passenger and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The complaint was lodged at the Government Railway Police (GRP) station, and Ahmad was subsequently jailed in connection with the case.

At the time, IG Rakesh Singh took what he described as a “strict but duty-bound” decision to dismiss Ahmad, citing the seriousness of the charges. Departmental proceedings were initiated, culminating in Ahmad’s removal from the Uttar Pradesh Police force.

However, Ahmad challenged the dismissal before the Allahabad High Court. In a remarkable twist, the case was taken up by advocate Anura Singh — the daughter of the very officer who had signed off on Ahmad’s termination.

During the hearing, Anura Singh argued that the dismissal process had violated the Uttar Pradesh Police Subordinate Ranks (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1991. She pointed out that the inquiry officer had not only determined the charges to be proven but had also gone a step further by recommending the punishment — a function legally reserved for the disciplinary authority alone.

Justice Ajit Kumar accepted this contention, ruling that both the inquiry report and the dismissal order were legally flawed. The court quashed both documents and ordered Ahmad’s reinstatement, with a directive to conduct a fresh inquiry within three months.

Speaking after the judgment on August 10, 2025, Anura Singh emphasised that the case was strictly a matter of professional responsibility: “This was simply about doing our respective jobs. In court, the authority of law stands above all personal relationships.”

Retired IG Rakesh Singh said he took pride in his daughter’s professionalism, noting that the outcome demonstrated the independence of judicial processes. Ahmad, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to the court and said he had no knowledge of the personal connection during the proceedings.

The case has since sparked widespread discussion in legal and policing circles, highlighting the rare intersection of professional duty, judicial integrity, and family ties in India’s justice system.