Karnataka High Court today dismissed a petition filed by former City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari, challenging legality of a Central Administrative Tribunal order directing only a certain category of officers to be recommended by UPSC for empanelment for the post of DGP.
Upholding the CAT order, a division bench headed by Justice K L Manjunath said Mr. Bidari’s name could not come under the zone of consideration as he did not fall in Higher Administrative Grade Plus category payscale of 75,500-80,000 and in the DGP rank post, as prescribed by the 2008 amended Indian Police pay rule and the criteria set by 1999 guidelines of the Centre.
The court also relied on a ruling by the Madras High Court in a similar case directing the UPSC to only consider names of candidates who fulfil the criteria including the pay scale category and stated that UPSC would have to follow uniform standard in all states to fill up such a post.
Mr. Bidari, who is now the Additional Director General of Police (Railways) had challenged the CAT order and said that his name should come under the zone of consideration as he had put in over 30 years of service and had a good record.
The petitioner had also cited a Supreme Court ruling on length of service being considered during shortlisting of candidates.
The CAT on an application filed by DG Home Guards and Fireforce D V Guruprasad, had passed an order on April 21 this year directing the State government to send a proposal of eligible officers of particular categories for DGP post.
