RTI reveals police postings on politicians’ recommendations
9 Sep, 2012Over 50 recommendation letters from different politicians to the former Chief Minister of Karnataka for the posting of police officers at the police stations of their choice have been procured under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Such recommendation letters were written by many high profile leaders including the current Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, current Home Minister R Ashoka and Union Minister KH Muniyappa.
Based on the information, Akhil Karnataka Police Mahasangha filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court accusing several politicians of interfering in the police transfers. In 2006, the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh and others vs. Union of India case, had directed all states to set up a Police Establishment Board. It had directed the governments not to interfere with the decision of the board barring some exceptional cases.
The petition seeks cancellation of all transfers carried out on the recommendation of politicians and punitive action against those who were responsible for the violation of SC directives. The recommendation letters signed by B S Yeddyurappa, the then CM of Karnataka, and forwarded to the DG & IG along with the transfer orders that followed the recommendations were presented in the court.