Justice Chinnappa to head Complaints Authority

The State government on Tuesday submitted to the High Court that it had decided to appoint retired judge of the High Court, Justice M P Chinnappa, as chairman of the Police Complaints Authority.

Following the submission, a division bench headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela disposed of the matter, while directing the government to ensure that the Authority starts functioning in the next two months.

The court made a oral observation that the matter could be pursued in the court again, if the Authority did not start functioning within two months.

The court was hearing a suo motu petition taken up as a PIL, after social activist M R Rajkumar wrote a letter to the High Court, seeking directions for the establishment of the Authority.

Meanwhile, pertaining to a petition seeking proper investigation into cases of sexual assault, filed by advocate M K Vijaykumar, the State submitted that it would establish a separate force to investigate crimes and to enforce law and order, by making the necessary amendments to the Karnataka Police Act.