CAT sets aside Dinesh Reddy's appointment as DGP

In a major setback to the government, the Central Administrative Tribunal on Tuesday set aside the appointment of V Dinesh Reddy as Director General Of Police of Andhra Pradesh.

The Cat while setting aside the appointment directed the state government to start afresh the process to select a new DGP within three weeks. The Tribunal observed the government had flouted the established rules and regulations while appointing Dinesh Reddy as the DGP and totally ignored the seniority of candidates during selection process.

The Tribunal asked the government to send a list of senior IPS officers to the UPSC within a week for the selection of new DGP.

The tribunal gave these directions following a petition filed by senior IPS Officer and Principal Secretary of Home P Gautam kumar challenging the Government’s decision to appoint Dinesh Reddy as the DGP last year. In his petition, Gautam Kumar contended that the government has ignored his seniority with regard to appointment of DGP. Gautam Kumar also observed the government violated the Supreme Court order in Prakash Singh case wherein it was said that the state government should send a list of three senior IPS officers to the UPSC for the selection of the DGP.

“The Supreme Court had made it mandatory to give sufficient respect to seniority and integrity while finalising the DGP's appointment. However, the government has repeatedly flouted the IPS cadre rules,” he said.

It may mentioned that Gautam Kumar, a 1975 batch IPS officer had challenged before the Cat the appointment of K Aravinda Rao as DGP and got an order in his favour in May last year.

However, the government filed petition in High court and obtained a stay on Cat verdict allowing Aravinda Rao to continue as DGP. Later, after his retirement in June 30 last year, Dinesh Reddy assumed charge as DGP.

Earlier, in the selection list of DGP, Gautam Kumar topped followed by Balvinder Singh and K R Nandan. Dinesh Reddy belonged to 1977 batch of IPS officers. While ignoring the seniority, the government considered Dinesh Reddy's appointment. He was scheduled to retire in September 2013.