Shankar M Bidari gets respite and CAT Bangalore’s notice

The director general and inspector general of police (DG & IGP) Shankar M Bidari got a respite on Wednesday when the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Bangalore, refused to stay his appointment as the state police chief.

The tribunal, however, issued notices to the state government, Union Public Service commissioner and Bidari, seeking an explanation.

The senior-most IPS officer in the state and director general of fire and emergency services, AR Infant, had approached the CAT, challenging Bidari’s appointment. He contended that the state government appointed Bidari in haste, by overlooking merit, integrity and seniority.

Infant said the state government, in an act of political interference and patronage, hurriedly appointed Bidari as head of the state police force on November 30, 2011.

Infant first contention is that the appointment is a gross violation of Supreme Court directive. The state government should have continued the service of previous DGP Achutha Rao till he completed two years of tenure on July 4, 2013.

Infant has pointed out that the state government has ignored the National Human Rights Commission’s findings on human rights violation of villagers in and around MM Hills during Bidari’s stint as the chief of Special Task Force (STF) that was formed to nab Verrappan.

He claimed the state government also ignored representation from a city-based NGO, Vimochana, to the governor, which was forwarded to the UPSC. The representation claims that various crimes, including rape of women, were committed by the STF personnel who were under Bidari’s commandership.

Also, Infant has argued that the state government has overlooked Bidari’s failure in handling law and order during his tenure as city police commissioner. Infant has cited the M Chinnaswamy stadium blasts in 2010 and Bidari’s alleged failure in controlling cricket betting mafia to buttress his argument.

Infant’s counsel Dhanalakshmi refused to comment on Wednesday’s development, saying that the matter is sub-judice.
Bidari was unavailable for comments.

The next hearing of the case is on January 11.