Prasada Rao leads race for DGP post

Hyderabad: The state government on Friday issued retirement orders to V. Dinesh Reddy. In the GO issued by the general administration department on Friday, Reddy, a 1977 batch IPS officer, will retire from service as he attains the age of superannuation on September 30. The government is now preparing a list of DG-level officials to be sent to the UPSC for the post. Anti-Corruption Bureau DG B. Prasada Rao is stated to be the frontrunner. CAT rejects DGP’s interim order plea The Hyderabad bench of the Central Adminis-trative Tribunal was not inclined on Friday to grant an interim direction, as sought by V. Dinesh Reddy, which would permit him to continue as the DGP of the state till the end of September 2014. A bench comprising Justice P. Swaroop Reddy and P.K. Basu (member, administration) admitted a petition by Dinesh Reddy, challenging a memo issued by the state government rejec-ting his representation to continue in the post. However, it dismissed his interim application. Vedula Venkata Ramana, senior counsel, arguing for the DGP, contended that his client should be allowed to continue as DGP for two years from September last year, as his appointment was made in accordance with the directions of the SC in the Prakash Singh case. He said that the service of his client as the DGP from June 2011 till his fresh appointment in September 2012 would not be taken into account as his earlier appointment was set aside by the CAT. That order was upheld by the AP High Court. The bench asked the counsel whether he had any such court order to strengthen his claim. The counsel replied in the negative and sought time to produce any such orders. K.G. Krishnamurthy, additional advocate-general, said Reddy was the DGP for 27 months in two spells. He added that after the HC order, he was made DGP in-charge for not less than a month. He contended that Reddy’s tenure as the DGP was well within the parameters of the directions of the SC. After the High Court order, the state government had sent a list of the officers who are under consideration for the post of the DGP, to the UPSC. Reddy continued in the post as in-charge till his re-appointment in consultation with UPSC in September, 2012, he added. The bench found that the appointment and the tenure of DGP Dinesh Reddy was well within the apex court’s directions and the ‘balance of connivance’ was not in favour of the petitioner to grant an interim order. The bench directed the state to file counter-affidavit within four weeks. Aruna, Das also in DGP race The names of Umesh Kumar, of 1977 batch, and 1979 batch B. Prasada Rao, T.P. Das, S.A. Huda, Aruna Bahuguna, and 1981 batch K. Durga Prasad and A.K. Khan are likely to be on the list of officials to be sent to UPSC. Kumar is facing a forgery case. Prasad is heading the Special Protection Group in Delhi. Bahuguna is on deputation to Delhi; if she is selected, she would be the first woman DGP of AP. Das and Ms Bahuguna are the top contenders with Rao for the post. Huda worked as DG law and order. A senior official said, “There was a precedent set with the panel list being sent to UPSC. If it is not followed, there is a likelihood of others approaching the CAT and the courts.” Rao, a scientist who researches in his lab at home, has held several key posts, including Hyderabad police commissioner.