HC orders status quo till March 30 in Bidari case

Karnataka High Court today ordered status quo till March 30 on a writ petition challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal's order quashing senior IPS officer Shankar Bidari's appointment as Director General and Inspector General of Police and appointment of A R Infant as ad hoc police chief.

A division bench comprising Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice B S Indrakala passed the order on a petition filed by the state government, with the final hearing slated for March 28.

The government contended that it enjoyed rights to appoint DGP and IG and CAT had transgressed its jurisdiction by quashing Bidari's appointment without taking it into confidence.

Infant had filed an application before CAT seeking quashing of Bidari's appointment contending that his seniority was overlooked.

On March 16, CAT set aside Bidari's appointment and ruled that Infant should be appointed ad hoc police chief till the government decides on the new nominee.

The CAT, in its order, said the government should prepare a fresh list of senior IPS officers and send it to the Union Public Service Commission, which in turn will suggest three names for the top post.