The Karnataka government appointed Lalrokhuma Pachuau, a 1977 batch IPS officer, as the State’s Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) Tuesday evening.
Pachuau was serving as DGP of CID, with the additional charge of the post of DG&IGP since May 31.
The appointment of the previous DG&IGP saw a bitter legal battle between Shankar M Bidari and A R Infant, that went to the Supreme Court. Bidari had challenged in the Supreme Court the quashing of his appointment as DG&IGP by the Central Administrative Tribunal and the High Court.
Amendment to the Act
However, the Karnataka government brought in an amendment to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, on June 1, 2012, through an ordinance. According to the ordinance, titled ‘Karnataka Police (Amendment) Ordinance of 2012’, those appointed as DG&IGP shall have a tenure of not less than two years, subject to superannuation.
Armed with the ordinance, the DG&IGP selection committee headed by the Home minister, that includes the Law minister and chief secretary, with the principal secretary, DPAR, as the convenor met Tuesday afternoon and selected the senior most IPS officer from the State cadre, Pachuau, as DG&IGP. He will have a long tenure in the post, as he is due to retire in February 2015.
Speaking to reporters, Pachuau said he would lay emphasis on strengthening preventive capabilities and hone crime detection skills of the State police. He said his priority would be to strengthen the police force by filling by the vacancies.
Five officers
There were five officers of DGP rank, including Pachuau. R K Dutta, a 1981 batch IPS officer, is on Central deputation as Additional Director, CBI, Sushanth Mahapatra, a 1979 batch IPS officer, is DGP (Training), Omprakash, a 1981 batch IPS officer, is DGP (Home Guards, Fire & Emergency Services) and B Umapathi, also a 1981 batch officer, is DGP (Police Restructuring).
Bidari, who has been fighting for his reinstatement in the Supreme Court, told Deccan Herald that he would continue fighting the case, challenging the ordinance brought in by the State government. He said he would abide by the Supreme Court judgement.
