Karnataka has had four director general and inspectors general of police in the last 13 months and there could be yet another change of guard in the next few days after the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order quashing the appointment of senior IPS officer Shankar M. Bidari as the DG&IGP.
With the government setting aside the criteria of seniority in the appointment of the head of police force after the retirement of then DG&IGP Ajay Kumar Singh on January 31, 2011, the seat of the police chief has practically been thrown open to the game of musical chairs with the senior most IPS officers staking their claim to the post in the court of law. When the former chief minister B.S. Yedyurappa-led government sidelined the senior most IPS officer D.V. Guruprasad for the DG&IGP’s post and appointed his batchmate S.T. Ramesh as the in-charge police chief, Mr. Guruprasad approached the Central Administrative Tribunal and challenged the appointment procedure followed by the government.
Following the CAT order, Mr Ramesh was posted out and Mr Achuta Rao was appointed as the next DG&IGP in May. Mr Rao retired on November 30 and government appointed Mr. Bidari after the Union Public Service Commission empanelled his name along with his senior - Mr Infant and other officers of the rank of DGP. Mr Infant, who felt that his seniority and merit were ignored, approached the CAT, which set aside Mr Bidari’s appointment. The CAT order was later upheld by the High Court and on March 30, Mr Infant was appointed as DG&IGP (concurrent charge). On Monday the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order and asked the court to re-examine its March 30 order.
“Karnataka has one-lakh strong police force; only 40 per cent of its constabulary has official quarters. Police housing is a very important issue. There has been nil progress since 2011 in this and police welfare measures,” a senior police said.