When will you transfer these cops, Mr CM?

When will you transfer these cops, Mr CM?
By: Imran Gowhar Date: 2010-07-13 Place: Bangalore




Yeddyurappa allegedly delays transfer of officers recommended by Police Establishment Board so he can propose names of his favourites for lucrative posts

The Supreme Court's attempts to keep politicians away from affecting police transfers by setting up a Police Establishment Board (PEB) appear to have been defeated.

For a month now, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has used every tactic in the book to delay transfer of police officers recommended by the board.

MLAs from the ruling party allegedly have their own ideas about where the officers should be posted and the CM is not too keen to let the board have its way.


MLAs from the ruling party allegedly have their own ideas about where the officers should be posted and the CM is not to keen to let the board have its way.


In June, the PEB prepared a list of 64 officers of the rank of deputy superintendent of police, rejecting nearly all recommendations made by the CM and the MLAs. The transfers list was reportedly prepared entirely on basis of merit, which led the CM to put the list on hold.

While the government has cited the MLCs (graduate and teacher's constituencies) elections as the reason for the delay, the real reason is understood to be the ruling party's unwillingness to let the PEB have its way.
PEB has written thrice to state government since then and requested it to affect the transfers suggested last month.

"The state government can only withhold transfers recommended by the board in exceptional cases. Moreover, the government has a strong reason to do so. Though the state government cited the election as a reason for the delay initially, there is no valid reason to not make the transfer now," said a senior police officer, who did not want to be named.

A senior officer said the state government was blatantly violating the Supreme Court's directives. "The ruling party won't accept the PEB's suggestions as it would amount to transferring officers who favour them. Not only does this encourage corruption it also leads to inefficient officers being posted in positions where they don't deserve to be," explained a retired senior officer.

Director General and Inspector General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh refused to comment on the issue. "I have nothing to say on the subject," said Singh.

Yeddyurappa could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.