HC orders status quo in Bidari Case

BANGALORE: The High Court on Tuesday ordered to maintain status quo till March 30 on the appeal filed by the state government challenging the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which quashed the appointment of Shankar M Bidari as DG & IGP and directed the state to appoint DGP of Fire and Emergency Services A R Infant as the ad-hoc DG & IGP.A division bench comprising Justices Dilip B Bhosale and B S Indrakala passed the order, and posted final hearing of the case to March 28.During hearing, the bench asked, “Why had Bidari not filed a petition challenging CAT’s order.” Bidari’s counsel said he did not get the order copy from the CAT, and would file a petition once he gets it.Counsel for Infant said the appointment of Bidari as DG & IGP was null and void as the state had kept the UPSC Empanelment Committee in the dark about allegations against Bidari as chief of the STF formed to nab forest brigand Veerappan.The state, while sending a list of names to UPSC for appointment as IG & DGP suppressed various allegations of harassment of women and violation of human rights against Bidari as STF chief, he said.He added Bidari’s taking charge looked like it was a “political appointment”. Advocate General S Vijay Shankar representing the state said it enjoyed rights to appoint the DGP and that the CAT had transgressed its jurisdiction.