Transfer of 13 police officers against rules

On November 13, at one go the Director and Inspector General of Police transferred 13 police officers in Bellary district. This was the time when the 'Delhi formula' of the BJP high command was being implemented to pacify the recalcitrant Bellary Reddy brothers.
Three DySPs, six inspectors and four sub-inspectors were shunted out as per the wishes of the Reddys, according to sources in the Home Department.

Inspectors K Ramarao, Shivanand H Chalavadi, Anand Dundappa, Suleman Tahasildar, Siddappa and P Muralidhar, who were shifted, are yet to get new postings.
However, the SIs - S K Shankar, Devaraj, S Mallikharjun and Govindappa have been given postings. So also for the DySPs - M Yogesh, Ashok Kerur and Kere B.
The State had constituted the Board on August 24 as per one of the six recommendations to reform the police set up. The Board was to decide on all transfers, postings, promotions and other service related matters of officers of and below the rank of DySP.

The DG&IGP is the Chairman of the Board, while the DG (Home Guards), DG (CID) and DG (Police Housing Corporation) are the members and ADGP (Admn) is the convener. Though the DG & IGP had issued the transfer orders, the decision was not taken in his capacity as Chairman of the Board.

Board bypassed
The ruling party politicians having their say in the transfer of officials is not new. But what's surprising is that the transfers were effected bypassing the Board.

Hardened stance
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, to assert that he is the boss, transferred SP Seemanth Kumar Singh from Bellary on October 28. Irked by this, the Reddys hardened their stand on Yeddyurappa's ouster from the post.
Under the 'Delhi formula', the Reddy brothers brought back Seemanth Kumar on November 10. Only in this transfer, the State government has overlooked the Board, according to sources.

The sources said that the Board has held so far four meetings and took decisions regarding transfer of about 200 personnel.
"For the Government the Board did not exist when it came to transfer of Bellary police officers. The Board seems to be of little consequence," the sources said.