Home dept, Lokayukta cops warned over RTI delay
For over a year, an RTI activist was made to run pillar-to-post to get information on who controls the watchdog's police wing
S Shyam Prasad shyam.prasad1@timesgroup.com
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Lokayukta does not control its police wing. That's the realisation of an RTI activist after a year-long chase for information.
The Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) has warned the under secretary of the home department (police services) and the superintendent of police, Lokayukta (special enquiries) for failing to provide information sought under three RTI applications by advocate D V Prakash.
Prakash had filed the applications on December 16, 2010 seeking all relevant notifications and government orders regulating the conduct, behaviour, functioning and discipline of police officers working under the Lokayukta.
He had also sought to know the administrative and disciplinary line of control over officers empowered to enforce the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Prakash asked for all circulars and orders which were there to control, prevent, enquire and punish police officers who are accused of using the Act to commit illegal acts and file false cases besides highhanded acts of omission and commission.
After failing to get the information for nearly three months, Prakash complained to the KIC which issued notices to the superintendent of Lokayukta police and the under secretary of home department on October 10, 2011. In its order, the KIC noted that the home department which had the information needlessly forwarded the application to the Lokayukta on December 23. The Lokayukta returned the application to the home department stating that it did not have the information.
Finally on March 19, the home department gave information to the applicant that the Lokayukta police come under the disciplinary jurisdiction of KSP (DP) Rules and the KSP (DP) Act, which are under the home department.
The state information commissioner, JS Virupakshaiah, in his order said that the there was needless transfer of the application and warned that such shifting of responsibility should not happen again.
The information provided by the home dept puts to rest the speculation over whether the corruption watchdog controls what is dubbed as its police wing, known popularly as the Lokayukta police. "It is just like any other police wing. It is under the control of the state govt through the home department," Prakash said.
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