Eight districts in State have no Lokayukta SPs

Administration, investigation processes have suffered a setback

The delay in appointing the Lokayukta in the State has affected the functioning of the ombudsman in the  districts, too. As many as eight districts are without a Lokayukta Superintendent of Police for the past six months.

Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Bellary, Bijapur, Dharwad, Belgaum and Uttara Kannada districts have been dispensing duties without SPs, who are crucial for the smooth administration, investigation and supervision processes in their respective districts.

While the SPs of south Karnataka have been assigned to a few districts, the other districts are managed by DySPs with an additional charge.

The post of Gulbarga Lokayukta SP has been lying vacant for the past six months, while that of Bidar district coming under Gulbarga police district, has been vacant for the last 13 months.  Yadgir does not have a Lokayukta SP, since its inception on January 14, 2010. A police inspector manages the show in the district, as the post of DySP too remains vacant.

Additional charge

While Chitradurga SP A M Nadaf holds the additional charge of Gulbarga and Raichur districts, the Davangere SP is put in charge of Yadgir.

Similarly, a senior DySP is managing the affairs in Belgaum. After the transfer of Gulbarga SP, B Mahantesh, in August last, the district was placed under the charge of Dharwad SP, B N Neelgar, who was later transferred to Belgaum.

With the retirement of Neelgar on January 31, the post of Belgaum SP fell vacant. The situation was so bad that at one point in time, Neelgar as Belgaum SP was holding additional charge of Dharwad, Gulbarga, Yadgir and Raichur.

Though vacant Lokayukta SP posts can be filled by appointing IPS officers, their shortage is considered to be a hurdle.

SPs appointment

The Lokayukta sends a requisition for posting officers as SPs, after due consultation with the Upa Lokayukta and the ADGP.

“The criteria for selecting Lokayukta SP are good service record, integrity and reputation. However, the final decision regarding the selection of the SPs rests with the Lokayukta,” said an official.

Absence of SPs obstructs the smooth administration of Lokayukta in districts. Moreover, an SP, who is given an additional charge of another district, may not be able to effectively dispense his duties. In the process, supervision and investigation of cases take a back seat. As a result, people’s grievances remain unaddressed in the absence of independent SPs, the official added.