Top court stays non-bailable warrant against K’taka DGP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued by the Karnataka High Court against the state’s Director General of Police for non-compliance of an order

related to transfer of a DSP.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde — which took up the Karnataka Government’s appeal at the end of the board i.e. after finishing the matters already listed before it — stayed the operation of the High Court’s February 18 order termed unusual by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Earlier in the day, Mehta sought urgent hearing on the state’s petition against the High Court’s order issuing an NBW against the DGP to be effected by the Home Secretary to secure his presence on February 25.

The High Court had issued NBW against state’s DGP Praveen Sood — a 1986 batch IPS officer after he failed to file his response to the plea filed by DSP SS Kashi, who was allegedly transferred 30 times in his 24-year-long career.

He had moved the High Court against the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal order holding his recent transfer to be valid.

Earlier, Mehta mentioned the Karnataka Government’s plea before the CJI’s Bench for urgent hearing.

“It is submitted that in the petitioner (DGP) herein has the highest respect for the High Court. In terms of the orders passed by the court, the petitioner shall furnish all information as required by the High Court and shall render all assistance as called upon.

“However, it is humbly submitted that the impugned order directing the issuance of non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the petitioner was not justified or warranted in the facts and circumstances of the case,” the petition said.