Susant Mahapatra, Director-General of Police and Chairman of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, on Wednesday moved the High Court of Karnataka questioning the Central Administrative Tribunal’s order dismissing his plea against the selection and appointment of Om Prakash as Director-General and Inspector-General of Police (DG and IGP).
A Division Bench comprising Justice Jayant M. Patel and Justice B. Srinivase Gowda, before whom the petition came up for hearing, ordered issue of notice to the State government. The government counsel sought time to produce original records of the selection process for the perusal of the court.
Contending that the amendments made to the Karnataka Police Act in 2012 for fixing criteria for selection to the post of DG and IGP was contrary to the directions of the Supreme Court, it has been alleged in the petition that the State government neither consulted the Union Public Service Commission nor the UPSC shortlisted or empanelled the senior-most IPS officers for being appointed to the post of DG and IGP.
Mr. Mahapatra, who is the senior-most IPS officer in the State, also contended that the tribunal, in its March 3, 2016 order, not at all discussed any of the issues he had raised against the selection and appointment of Mr. Om Prakash.
The selection process was vitiated owing to alleged interference by the former IPS officer Kempaiah, who is the adviser to the Home Minister, it has been contended in the petition.
Further hearing was adjourned till June 10.
