Submit report on appointment of members to police complaints authority: HC to Govt

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The High Court has directed the State Government to submit a report within four weeks regarding the steps taken to appoint two members to the Karnataka State Police Complaint Authority.

The petition filed by lawyer Sudha Katwa in this regard came up for hearing before the division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice MGS Kamal on Wednesday.

Advocate General K Sasikiran Shetty appeared for the government and submitted a compliance report from the Deputy Chief Secretary, Home Department.

The report stated that the retired High Court Justice NK Sudhindra Rao was appointed on July 31, 2023 to head the Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority.

Justice Rao had already taken over charge and the Authority had been provided with a spacious office in the VV Towers. In addition, the report stated that necessary staff has also been provided for the Authority.

The court was also told that the process of appointing two members to the Authority is underway.

The delay in appointing the chairman and members to the Authority is due to technical and procedural factors; the appointments have been delayed due to some circumstances beyond the government's control, Shetty submitted to the court.

However, the process has now speeded up, he said. Adhering to the earlier order of the High Court, the Deputy Chief Secretary of the Home Department attended the hearing in person on Wednesday.

After taking his report and his presence on record the bench directed the government to submit a report within four weeks regarding the steps taken in relation to the appointment of members to the Authority and adjourned the hearing.