The Gujarat High Court on Monday (October 26) restrained the state from passing a final order on the dismissal of a police officer accused of sexual harassment, taking note of the officer’s submission that he had not been heard by an internal committee in accordance with the procedure under law.

The officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) R M Chaudhari, is due to retire on November 30, a little over a month from now.

In his petition filed through Advocate Utkarsh Dave, Chaudhari submitted that the state government had issued a final show-cause notice on September 9 asking him to explain why he should not be dismissed after the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) recommended the punishment.

Counsel argued before the court that the disciplinary proceedings were founded on an inquiry in which the officer was denied a fair opportunity to defend himself.…