The Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill 2013 “to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court in respect of police reforms and to ensure effective functioning of the Police Establishment Board (PEB)”.
The board, headed by the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police, consisted, till the amendment was passed, of three “senior-most” police officers not below the rank of Additional Director-General of Police as members. Monday’s Bill replaced “senior-most” police officers with “senior” police officers.
Sub-section (2) clause (c), which provided the board power to make “appropriate recommendations to the government regarding postings and transfer of officers of and above the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police” has been omitted.
Section 20F of the old legislation provided “power of transfer to the board or by the government in consultation with board”. The amended Bill extends “power of transfer to board or to the government as the case may be from his post before the expiry of the minimum tenure”.
So, the new Bill will give the government control over transfers and postings of police officers.
During the discussion on the Bill, Govind M. Karjol of the BJP suggested reservation for SC, ST candidates while choosing the members, for which Home Minister K.J. George agreed.
When the former Home Minister R. Ashok objected to the amendment to the provision about “senior-most”, Mr. George said the government was presenting the Bill as drafted by the previous government.
