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2 transfers in one week leaves Lokayukta SIT headless

Ombudsman not consulted before changing heads for team probing illegal mining
Last Updated 12 January 2016, 20:28 IST
The State government seems to be casual in posting officials to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Lokayukta, constituted to probe illegal mining. The government transferred K S R Charan Reddy, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and chief of SIT, and posted IGP Malini Krishnamurthy as the SIT chief.

But, it transferred Malini within a week, leaving the SIT headless. The government did not consult the Lokayukta institution while executing two back-to-back transfers within seven days.

In February 2014, the Lokayukta office proposed the name of Reddy to head the SIT. The government also appointed other officials to the SIT, in consultation with the Lokayukta. It has been a practice to consult the Lokayukta before appointing police officials to both the Lokayukta police and the SIT.

On January 1, 2016, the government transferred Reddy and posted him as Additional Commissioner of Police (law and order), Bengaluru City. On January 8, the government issued another order transferring Malini as IGP (Internal Security Division).

Personal reasons
Sources said, Malini requested the transfer citing personal reasons. This apart, the post of SP (SIT) is vacant since Rohini Katoch Sepat, who was posted to SIT on January 1, is now transferred as SP of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

On Tuesday, Malini Krishnamurthy was relieved of the duty as IGP of SIT. In-charge registrar of the Lokayukta R S Patil said that there was no communication from the government on the recent transfers.

“The office of the registrar had got no communication as consultation from the government. I cannot comment as of now as to who relieved both the officials. There is no communication from the government as to who will be the next chief of the SIT,” he said.

The Upalokayuktas – Justice N Ananda and Justice Subhash B Adi – told Deccan Herald that they were not consulted before the transfers. “Malini Krishnamurthy had come to see me. However, I was not consulted nor did I relieve her of the duty,” Justice Adi said. Justice Ananda said that the appointments to SIT don’t come under the purview of the Upalokayukta.

“I was not consulted while these appointments were made. The State government has constituted the SIT on the direction of the Supreme Court. Hence, they will take a decision on posting officials to the SIT,” he said.

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(Published 12 January 2016, 20:28 IST)

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