The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday ordered issue of notice to the State government on a PIL petition seeking actions against MLAs and MLCs who had allegedly influenced the Chief Minister as well as the State police chief for posting of police officers of their choice to police stations falling under their constituencies.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice L. Narayana Swamy and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar passed the order on the petition filed by V. Shashidhar, a social activist.
The petitioner has alleged that the Chief Minister and other Ministers and elected representatives in the State have given a go-by to the directions given by the Supreme Court and the High Court in ordering transfers of police officers on their personal preferences while bypassing the Police Establishment Board, which was formed by amending the Karnataka Police Act in tune with the apex court’s direction to prevent political influence for posting and transfer of police personnel.
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It has been alleged in the petition that the MLAs and MLCs have violated the oath of office as per the Constitution of India by seeking posting of police officers of their personal choice, and have also committed offences under provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 and the Indian Penal Code, and the Chief Minister too has violated the law by entertaining such illegal requests from elected representatives.
The petitioner has said that he has submitted a complaint in this regard to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly seeking a probe against the MLAs, who had written letters to the Chief Minister and the police chief for posting police officers of their choice.