Siddaramaiah’s flashpoint, tribunal relief spark talk of political overreach in police ranks | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Two developments within a week — the reinstatement of four police officers suspended for the stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations, and Dharwad additional SP NV Baramani’s decision to quit nearly three months after a public spat in which chief minister Siddaramaiah appeared to raise his hand at him during a public event — have left the govt red-faced and reignited concern over mounting political intrusion into policing.Together, the twin episodes have deepened disquiet within the force and sparked debate over the erosion of operational independence. The broader concern being raised is whether the police force in Karnataka is buckling under sustained political overreach.“With a deterioration in standards of public life and public conduct, there is a corresponding fall in the conduct of political functionaries,” said ST Ramesh, former DGP. “It is not uncommon for political functionaries to address officials rudely. This steady deterioration in standards of interaction between political functionaries and police officers has led to the emasculation of the police force.”Ramesh, who served the force for 35 years, pointed to the constitutional separation of power. “Just as there is a separation of power among the judiciary, legislature, and executive, there exists such a line between powers of the political dispensation and the administrative executive. These are clear lines, but partly out of ignorance and partly because they think that they can get away with anything, the boundaries are crossed,” Ramesh said.Advocating police autonomy, he said: “Broad guidelines and policy statements are in order, but not interference in day-to-day functions. This is not the first incident, nor is it going to be the last.”However, labour minister and Dharwad in-charge Santosh Lad defended Siddaramaiah while attempting to downplay the Baramani episode. “All of us, including politicians, have faced these public humiliations. The incident involving the CM was unintended,” Lad said.He also denied any pattern linking CAT’s ruling and Baramani’s decision to opt for voluntary retirement. “CAT’s decision is a procedural and legal matter,” he said, while refusing to comment further.Another retired senior police officer flagged “politicisation of postings”. “The department is facing serious concerns with more and more appointments being made based on political influence… If the CM appoints someone, then the district minister is unhappy. And if the district minister is happy, then local MLAs have to be pleased as well,” the officer said.Serving officers observed that Siddaramaiah’s current term is unlike his earlier stint in 2013. “The CM is under pressure,” said an officer. “Baramani being persuaded by Siddaramaiah and home minister Parameshwara to return to work was aimed at damage control.”Ramesh said such unsavoury incidents could lead to a drop in morale. “Once that happens, service delivery is bound to deteriorate, impacting citizens,” Ramesh said.