Initiating a Constitutional provision that enables dismissal of an officer in the interest of the state without enquiry, the Beijing station chief of India's external intelligence agency, RAW, has been summarily sacked.
Official sources said here on Monday that the Joint Secretary level officer -- Amreet Ahluwalia -- was initially called back from China and served the dismissal order in the wake of certain charges against him which have not been disclosed.
Ahluwalia, who is said to be here, could not be contacted for his comments. Article 311 (2) of the Constitution provides for such dismissal when the President is satisfied that in the interest of the security of State, it is not expedient to hold inquiry.
External Affairs Ministry sources said the official had been 'recalled' from Beijing by 'authorities concerned'.
Sources said charges were serious which were evident from the nature of dismissal but refused to give any other details about the action taken against him.
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) had to resort to such summary dismissal in the case of Rabinder Singh, who had defected to the United States in 2004 after coming under surveillance for snooping for foreign agencies.