Breather to DGP as HC stays CAT order

Hyderabad, Feb 5: Providing a breather to the Director General of Police (DGP), Mr R R Girish Kumar, and to the Rosaiah Administration, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday stayed the operation of the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).Acting on a petition filed by former DGPs, Mr S S P Yadav and Mr A K Mahanty, the Hyderabad bench of the CAT has set aside the appointment of Mr Girish Kumar to the top post and also directed the State Government to constitute a selection committee to replace Mr Girish in two weeks.

The State Government should keep in mind the observations made by the tribunal, the order said.However, the State Government on Thursday challenged the CAT order and the petition came up for hearing before a division bench of the High Court on Friday. In an interim judgment, the High Court stayed the operation of the CAT order and adjourned the case for six week for further hearing.With regard to the payment of perks and other matters relating to the hike in salary, the court will hear all the issues when it comes up for hearing after six weeks, sources in the High Court said.

Mr Yadav, a 1974 batch IPS officer approached the CAT in October last year challenging the appointment of Mr Girish Kumar, a 1976-batch IPS officer as the State DGP. Mr Yadav was transferred as MD of the state-owned Road Transport Corporation. Disturbed by the State Government’s move, he filed a petition before the CAT stating that “Mr Girish Kumar was illegally promoted as DGP with apex pay scale.” Mr. Kumar, till then, was holding the post of additional DG and was promoted to facilitate him for the DGP post.Similarly, another DGP rank officer, Mr A. K. Mahanty, also moved CAT, alleging that he was removed from the post without any valid reason. He alleged that he was posted in a low pay-scale rank. He is now the chairman of the State Road Safety Authority.