Date:28/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/28/stories/2007042820450500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

I wasn't consulted on posting: Hegde

Staff Reporter

`DIG Sudhir's services not sought'

N. Santosh Hegde

BANGALORE: "The State Government has not consulted me before issuing the order posting K.L. Sudhir as Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Lokayukta police," said Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde on Friday.

Mr. Hegde said the Lokayukta had neither sought the services of Mr. Sudhir nor did it want the particular post to be filled.

"I would like to comment further only after checking what led to his appointment," Mr. Hegde told The Hindu on Friday.

This is the second time in the tenure of Mr. Hegde that there appears to be an absence of consultation between the Lokayukta and the Government.

In November 2006, the Government posted to the Lokayukta five officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police.

While one officer was in the list of names recommended by Lokayukta, the others were in the list of officers rejected by the institution. But the Government went ahead and made the appointments. Mr. Hegde declined to accept their postings.

Mr. Hegde had then observed that the Lokayukta, being a sensitive organisation, needed sincere officers who were bold enough to take actions against seniors in their department.

Mr. Hegde said the Government needed to consult the Lokayukta and send only those officials sought for by him.

Other transfers

Incidentally, Mr. Sudhir is one among the 14 IPS officers transferred by the State Government from their current posts.

The other officers who are transferred include M.A. Saleem as DIG Head Quarters-1 Bangalore, Malini Krishnamurthy as DIG, Corps of Detectives, Bangalore, G.B. Chebbi as DIG (Security) Bangalore, Syed Ulfat Hussain as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Bangalore-North), B.N.S. Reddy as DCP (Bangalore-Central) and Madhukar Shetty as DCP (Traffic -East).