SHO in trouble for 'French leave'

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SHO in trouble for 'French leave'

as reported by Medha Chaturvedi, 25 Jul 2008, TNN

NEW DELHI: He is accused neither of graft nor of use of force or anything else that would taint his uniform. But the SHO of Kashmere Gate police station, Arun Sharma, is in trouble. Believe it or not, he is facing a departmental enquiry for attending French classes without seeking "permission" from his seniors.

Sharma reportedly took French lessons at Alliance Francaise on Lodhi Road last year on alternate days between 7.30am and 9.30am. He would then reach Kashmere Gate police station by 10am to start his day's work.

According to a response on a query filed under the Right to Information Act, the departmental inquiry was initiated because the daily diary wasn't being maintained during the period of his absence and Sharma had not sought permission to attend these classes from either the DCP or the competent authority at the police headquarters.

"I did not think that my joining French classes would become such a problem," Sharma said. "I joined the class as a hobby. With the Commonwealth Games nearing, I thought it would be nice to know a foreign language. I only completed the elementary level and as soon as the inquiry was initiated against me, I stopped."

Sharma, 40, is a graduate of Kirorimal College in Delhi University and joined Delhi Police in July 1990. He has worked at Tughlaq Road police station as SHO, in the traffic police and in the special cell prior to this appointment.
The person who filed the RTI application against the SHO, however, maintained that he should be removed from the post.

SHO in trouble for 'French leave'-Delhi-Cities-The Times of India

Cartoon by Neelabh