The State government is likely to go on appeal in the Supreme Court against the High Court order setting aside the appointment of DG&IGP Shankar Mahadev Bidari. “We are awaiting the court order. We will act after examining it,” said Principal Secretary, Home, S.M. Jamdar.
Though the division bench of the High Court, which struck down Mr Bidari’s appointment, has asked the State to act immediately, the government may still approach the apex court for a stay.
According to sources, the court, which came down heavily on the government for not placing the NHRC report before the UPSC, has put the government in a spot. “It will be embarrassing for the government to appeal in the apex court,” said a senior IPS officer.
Mr Bidari, due to retire on May 31, is likely to be succeeded by IPS officer of 1977 batch Lalrokhuma Pachau – currently the DGP of Mizoram, his home state. He belongs to the Karnataka cadre and is set to return in May.
The next best option for the government is to appoint senior-most IPS officer A.R. Infant, also of 1977 batch, as acting DG&IGP and send the names of the DGP rank officers – Mr Infant, Mr Pachau, Mr Mahapatra, Mr Umapathi and Mr R.K. Dutta — to the UPSC for empanelment.
“Once empanelled the government may appoint Mr Pachau to save it from embarrassment and a repetition of the appointment procedure a month-and-a-half later. Mr Pachau is set to retire in March 2015,” said another officer.