Bidari gets SC clean chit, but can’t be police chief

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It’s come a day too late for former DG&IGP Shankar M. Bidari. The Supreme Court, on Friday – a day after he retired - gave him a clean chit and absolved him of charges of alleged excesses as the commander of the Special Task Force during the anti-Veerappan operations.

The division bench comprising Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and C.K. Prasad on Friday stayed the May 28 High Court order, which annulled the appointment of Mr Bidari as the police chief, and left it to the State to appoint its DG&IGP.

The judges also stated that there was nothing adverse against Mr Bidari during his career, including the period when he was the chief of the State STF.

Mr Bidari’s re-instatement as DG&IGP is, however, ruled out since he has already retired. The government, on Thursday, has issued the note on his superannuation, said a senior officer.

Moreover, the government ordinance issued on June 1 with respect to the Supreme Court directives on police reforms clearly states that two-year tenure to the head of police force will remain subject to superannuation.

Mr Bidari had appealed against the May 28 order of the Karnataka High Court dismissing his plea against Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) March 16 order related to his appointment.

The CAT had quashed his appointment as state police chief. By its earlier order of March 30, the High Court, while affirming the order of the CAT, had directed the removal of Mr Bidari and his replacement by his colleague Mr A.R. Infant.

Govt issues ordinance on police reforms

The State government on Friday finally issued an ordinance with respect to the Supreme Court directives on police reforms – some of which of have already been put in place through an executive order.

Putting to rest the controversy on the tenure of the DG&IGP, the government has maintained that it would consider granting two-year tenure to the head of the police force, subject to his superannuation.

The ordinance further mandates the formation and functioning of the State Security Commission - to insulate the police from political interference and evaluate the performance of the State police; the Police Establishment Board – to decide transfers/promotions/postings and other service-related matters of the officers of and below the rank of deputy superintendent of police and the Police Complaints – to inquire, at State-level, into public complaints against police officers of and above the rank of DySP in cases of serious misconduct, custodial death or rape in police custody among other excesses and, at the district-level, complaints against officers of and below the rank of DSP.

On the separation of law and order from crime investigation, the ordinance states that this would be done at police stations where crime statistics is above average. Karnataka has 905 police stations and a nearly one lakh-strong police force.