Let Thakur continue as BMTF chief, says High Court to Karnataka government

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the state government to permit senior IPS officer Prashant Kumar Thakur to continue as ADGP, Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF).

The court passed an interim order while directing the state to restore the status quo prior to March 22, when Thakur was posted as the chief. The state government had transferred Thakur and posted senior IPS officer R.P. Sharma by giving him the additional charge as the BMTF chief, while serving as the Managing Director of Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd. Later Thakur had approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) questioning his transfer. However, when the Tribunal rejected his interim application, the IPS officer challenged it before the High Court on the ground that it was a premature transfer.

Thakur’s advocate argued that that the transfer is mala fide and that the Tribunal failed to appreciate the facts and circumstances of the case. Meanwhile, the additional government advocate submitted th at the matter has been listed before the Tribunal for final hearing on June 8 and therefore, no interference is called for.

“In terms of the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2013, the officer concerned should have a minimum tenure of one year. The petitioner (Thakur) has been transferred within a period of 11 weeks. Therefore, we are of the prima-facie view that the order of transfer is not in accordance with law,” the High Court observed while passing the order directing the state government to let Thakur continue in the post of the chief of BMTF. Meanwhile the High Court makes it clear that the Tribunal is at liberty to proceed with the final disposal of the case, wherein Thakur has challenged the order transferring him from the post.