Police officers Shankar Bidari and A R Infant have reacted cautiously to the Supreme Court verdict, which stayed the order of the High Court, upholding CAT’s order cancelling Bidari’s appointment as the DG&IGP.
Infant told Deccan Herald: “I respect the judicial order and will abide by it. The Supreme Court has directed the High Court to hear the matter afresh and I will continue my legal battle.”
Bidari said: “I have served the State sincerely for 41 years in various capacities. The High Court order and observation had almost nullified all that. Finally, I have got justice in the Supreme Court and I will continue to serve the State.”
On Tuesday, there was some confusion over who would be continued as the DG&IGP. When contacted Home Department Principal Secretary S M Jaamdar said: “The government is yet to receive the Supreme Court order copy. Further action will be contemplated only after studying the order and its interpretations.”
Opinion sought
On the chances of Bidari being reinstated, he said: “We need to take the opinion of the Advocate General and the lawyers who represented the government in the Supreme Court. A suitable decision will be taken at the government level. The decision is expected in a couple of days.”
Law Minister Suresh Kumar said the government had been following procedure as stipulated by law while making appointments to top posts.
Law to take its course
“Both Bidari and Infant are senior officers and are held in great esteem by the State government. Due processes of law were followed in the appointment of the DG&IGP,” he said.
The State government had appointed Bidari as DG&IGP in November 2011. However, Bidari’s appointment was challenged in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) by Infant, who is one year senior to Bidari in the Indian Police Service (IPS). The government faced embarrassment after CAT cancelled Bidari’s appointment.
History of controversy
The controversy surrounding the appointment of the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) goes back to an year ago, when S T Ramesh and D V Guruprasad fought for the coveted post. Ramesh was made the incharge DG&IGP.
Bidari moved the court quoting an UPSC norm and saying his name should also be considered for the post.
Finally, the government appointed N M Achuta Rao as the DG&IGP, who paved the way for Bidari. Ramesh was never made an independent DG&IGP.
The controversy continued when Infant moved the CAT, claiming the government neglected his seniority and appointed Bidari who was accused of human rights violation when he was the head of the Special Task Force against forest brigand Veerappan.
