In-charge DGP's plea dismissed

Govt yet to open sealed cover from UPSC

“There are no documents to show that the UPSC has not included the petitioner’s name. The affidavit has been filed in a hurry.... The petitioner is guessing that his name might not have been included...” a Bench comprising vice-chairman N D Raghavan and administrative member K N Katyayini observed.

The High Court has upheld the earlier order of the Tribunal to complete the selection of the DG and IGP, following an application filed by Dr D V Guruprasad, DGP. The Bench sought know why the Government did not act accordingly.

On Thursday, the CAT had asked the State government to explain why it did not open the sealed cover sent by the UPSC which contained a list of names recommended for the DGP post.

Ramesh had contended that the list contained the names Guruprasad and Neelam Achuta Rao only. Ramesh is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Police Housing Corporation.

Onus on govt

The CAT order has put the onus on the government to appoint a full-time DG and IGP. The post fell vacant after the retirement of Ajai Kumar Singh. Chief Secretary S V Ranganath had recommended the government to put D V Guruprasad, then heading the CID, in concurrent charge as DGP. However, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa chose Ramesh.

The chief secretary, in his letter dated April 26, 2011 to the UPSC Secretary, had recommended D V Guruprasad, Ramesh, Achutha Rao and M K Srivastava, as the eligible officers for the DG and IGP post. The names were arranged in order of their inter-se seniority in IPS, Karnataka cadre.

The secretary was also one among the four-member committee constituted by the UPSC to select an IGP.

Sources said Ranganath opted to keep himself off the selection process as Guruprasad happens to be his distant relative.

S T Ramesh may approach the court again if his name is not in the list and so also D V Guruprasad in case the government does not consider him for the top cop’s job. Both will retire by July end while Neelam Achuta Rao has nine months of service.