Karnataka DGP worse than Muammar Gaddafi: HC

Bangalore: In a scathing verdict, Karnataka High court today struck down appointment of Shankar Bidari as state DGP and IG, describing him as “worse than Saddam Hussain or Muammar Gaddafi” for alleged atrocities committed by the STF led by him during the hunt to nab forest brigand Veerappan. Dismissing as “without merit and substance” petitions by the government and Bidari, challenging the CAT order, the division bench headed by Justice N Kumar held his empanelment by UPSC and consequent appointment as “void and illegal.” [caption id=“attachment_261589” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“AFP Photo”]  [/caption] Upholding the verdict of Central Administrative Tribunal, the court said “in the facts of the case, we cannot find any infirmity in the said decision. It is just”. It struck down Bidari’s contentions “absolving himself of the responsibility” of atrocities by stating he was only Deputy Commander of the Joint Task Force of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to nab Veerappan and not “omnipresent and omnipotent like Saddam Hussain or Muammar Gaddafi.” “Though he was not one of them, if what the two women (tribals) have said in their affidavit is true, he is worse than them” (Saddam Hussain and Muamar Gadaffi), the court said in its acerbic observations. The court directed the government should relieve Bidari forthwith and appoint AR Infant in his place. “Otherwise they are answerable to the public of the state”. The court dismissed the memo filed by the government seeking a one week stay of the order. It observed “if the state government has any respect for the rule of law, womanhood, human rights, concern for the downtrodden, tribals, and socially backward communities of the state, they should relieve the third respondent (Bidari) forthwith and appoint the applicant (AR Infant) in that place.” On 16 March, CAT had set aside Bidari’s appointment as DGP and IG and ruled that Infant should be appointed ad hoc police chief till the government decides on the new appointment. CAT said government should prepare a fresh list of senior IPS officers and send it to UPSC, which would suggest three names for the top post. On the court verdict, Infant said:  “I am lucky that my case was tried by judges with great conviction, both at CAT and High Court. I admire their courage of conviction”. PTI