Govt, Lokayukta differ over ADGP transfer

 The State government and the Karnataka Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao have locked horns over the recent transfer of IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Karnataka Lokayukta, H N Sathyanarayana Rao.

Bhaskar Rao, who had expressed his displease for having transferred the officer without consulting him, had on September 16 written a strong, four-page letter to Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee, explaining in detail the procedure and practice of appointing police personnel in the State anti-corruption ombudsman. The government bluntly rejected Bhaskar Rao’s stand. 

The government had on September 12 transferred Sathyanarayana Rao and posted Prem Shankar Meena to the post. Rao has been posted as ADGP, Communications, Logistics and Modernisation, Bangalore. Bhaskar Rao has not yet relieved Sathyanarayana from his post in the Lokayukta.

Bhaskar Rao has stated in the letter that the government has to consult the Karnataka Lokayukta before appointing or transferring an officer as per the Section 15(1) and 15(2) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984. “As per section 15(1) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, to assist the Hon’ble Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta in the discharge of their functions, such officers and employees will have to be prescribed. While appointing such officers and employees, it is necessary that there shall be effective consultation with the Hon’ble Lokayukta,” the letter stated.

He has also quoted a Karantaka High Court judgment and the deputation process in the government’s personnel policy which states that a ADGP should be deputed on the recommendation of the Karnataka Lokayukta. 

The government, in its reply, stated that it is not binding on its part to consult the Lokayukta for posting an officer as ADGP to Karnataka Lokayukta. “Neither the Karnataka Lokayuka Act, 1984, nor the above mentioned judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka impose any obligation on the State government to either consult the Lokayukta or to send a panel of officers to the Lokayukta for posting as ADGP, Karnataka Lokayukta,” it stated.

The government has also urged him to relieve Sathyanarayana Rao and enable Meena to assume charge.