The High Court of Karnataka on Friday directed the Police Establishment Board to transfer police officers objectively and in accordance with the law.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar issued the direction while disposing of a PIL petition that complained that officers are being transferred based on recommendations or influence from Ministers, MLAs and other politicians.
Direction sought
Petitioner V. Shashidhar, a social activist, had sought a direction from the court to prohibit the State government from exercising the power for transfer of police personnel on its own or based on the recommendation letters issued by politicians by way of appointing/transferring the police officers to places of their choice, since the recommendations has to emanate from the Police Establishment Board alone in terms of Section 20B of the Karnataka Police Act.
It was pointed out that the board was established by amending the Act in terms of the direction issued by the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh’s case.
The board is headed by State Police Chief and comprises three senior police officers not below the rank of Additional Director-General of Police as members to be nominated by the government. Additional Director-General of Police (Administration) is its Member-Secretary.
