The Hindu : New Delhi News : New Tihar DG takes over

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 01, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

New Tihar DG takes over

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 31. The Director General of Tihar Central Jail, Ajay Aggarwal, retired from service today after a five-and-a-half-year-long tenure, the longest for any prison chief in Delhi. R.P. Singh, who was recently promoted from the post of Joint Commissioner in Delhi police, has replaced him.

Mr. Aggarwal, who took over as the Tihar Jail chief in 1999, was given a farewell by the jail staff. Later, talking to mediapersons, Mr. Aggarwal, an Indian Police Service officer of the 1966 batch, said he was feeling relieved after having spent 40 years in the police service. However, he added that he would be available to anybody needing his help. Asked how he would rate his performance, Mr. Aggarwal said he was satisfied with his performance both as a police officer and as Director General of Tihar Jail.

Mr. Aggarwal had taken over the responsibility of Tihar as an Inspector General. During the course of his tenure, he was promoted to the full rank of Director General, thus becoming the first prison chief to hold the post. He has been credited with continuing with the reforms initiated by Kiran Bedi and also introducing new initiatives for betterment of the inmates and functioning of the prison.

Earlier this year, Tihar was in the news after Sher Singh Rana, the main accused in the Phoolan Devi murder case, escaped from jail in February. Mr. Aggarwal had come down heavily on the erring staff and a number of personnel were either suspended or transferred in connection with the case.

After taking charge, Mr. R.P.Singh, an IPS officer of the 1969 batch, who had been handling the Establishment Wing of the Delhi police till recently, told mediapersons that he would first like to familiarise himself with the job. Mr. Singh said that administration of jails was going to be a new experience for him. He added that he would like to impart a humane touch to the functioning of the prison and also in ensuring discipline. Mr. Singh also said that the ongoing programmes in the prison would continue uninterrupted.

Later, in a ceremonial gesture, the staff and officers of Tihar Central Jail pulled the vehicle of the retired Director General out of the prison complex with ropes.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi