Frame rules to appoint commissioner for disabled, HC tells govt

The High Court on Monday directed the State government to frame rules and guidelines for appointing the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in four months and to appoint a new commissioner by following the new rules.

Hearing a petition by the All India Physically Handicapped Welfare Association, challenging the appointment of K S Rajanna as the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice B V Nagarathna disposed of the petition. The bench passed an order stating that Rajanna can remain the commissioner till the new rules are framed and a new commissioner is appointed. The petitioners had contended that Rajanna - who himself is a disabled person - is not eligible enough to hold the position of Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities. The petitioner had challenged his appointment as the commissioner. The High Court has granted stay on the show-cause notice issued by the government to Susant Mahapatra, Director General of Police and the chairman of Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (KSPHIDCL).

Hearing a petition by Mahapatra, challenging the notice, Justice Raghavendra S Chauhan issued notice to the government. Mahapatra was issued notice for exposing certain illegalities and irregularities by the earlier managing director of KSPHIDCL and for speaking to the media about it.

The officer had spoken about the irregularities in the tender process in the previous three years and against a senior IPS officer who worked as managing director. He had also lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta. The government issued notice, stating that Mahapatra had violated the provisions of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, and lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta without intimation. Mahapatra has sought that the notice be quashed.