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Bidari worse than Saddam, Gaddafi, rules Karnataka High Court

Shankar Mahadev Bidari has been made to pay for the alleged human rights violations against tribals and women during his tenure as the head of the Special Task Force.

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Shankar Mahadev Bidari has been made to pay for the alleged human rights violations against tribals and women during his tenure as the head of the Special Task Force (STF) constituted to capture forest brigand Veerappan. The high court on Friday quashed his appointment as the DG&IGP, terming the appointment as “illegal”. It directed the state to appoint the current director general (fire and emergency services) AR Infant as the DG&IGP.

The court came down heavily on STF personnel and the state for human rights violations and excesses against tribal women. A division bench, headed by Justice N Kumar, observed: “If the state government has any respect for the rule of law and has any concern for human rights for the downtrodden, they should relieve Bidari and appoint Infant as the DG & IGP. Otherwise, they are answerable to the public.”

The bench passed the orders in response to petitions filed by the state government and Bidari challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order quashing his appointment as DG&IGP.

The court took a view of the matter, where one-sided version of records was presented to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The state did not send the findings of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the UPSC during the empanelment of names for the post. “One thing is certain — we are convinced Bidari and the state have kept the NHRC report away from the tribunal and the court since they are scared,” the bench observed.

The bench took cognisance of the fact that the record of Bidari during his tenure as STF mentioned rewards for bravery. However, other facts like how he conducted investigations or commanded forces were not placed before the UPSC.

Taking serious note of a gang rape and torture of two women by STF personnel in the presence of Bidari himself, the bench said: “If the statement is true that torture was carried out in his presence, this may be the reason why he is trying to absolve himself.”

The bench struck down Bidari’s contentions “absolving himself of the responsibility” of atrocities by stating he was only deputy commander of the Joint Task Force of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to nab Veerappan and not “omnipresent and omnipotent like Saddam Hussain or Muammar Gaddafi.” “Though he was not one of them, if what the two women (tribals) have said in their affidavit is true, he is worse than them (Saddam Hussain and Muammar Gadaffi),” the court said in its acerbic observations.
The bench also came down heavily on the state. The chief minister, it said, should have studied the NHRC report before appointing Bidari.

“If they have concern for downtrodden and helpless women, they should not have preferred writ petitions. It is done only to justify their action. This is not a legal issue, but a moral one.”
 
On Friday, Infant said the verdict is a victory for him and all IPS cadre officers, adding that he is ready to take charge as DG&IGP as soon as government issues a full-time or interim notification.
Meanwhile, Bidari said he would approach the Supreme Court.

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