Behera's double role kicks up row

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A fresh controversy has erupted over state police chief Loknath Behera holding the post of the director of State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for more than six months in breach of Central norm against the same officer occupying more than one cadre post at the same time.

What is more serious is that the state government had neither intimated nor sought the permission of the Centre in Mr Behera's Vigilance regular posting. He was first appointed in the vigilance chief vacancy left by Mr Jacob Thomas on March 31 last year. Subsequently since June-end he has been on a regular posting.

He has been holding the vigilance chief post for 11 months now, which makes his continuation untenable if the post has not been de-notified with the Centre's permission. De-notification is not easy because senior officers, who have sufficient exposure in vigilance, are available for the cadre posting.

This has given rise to doubts why the state government has entrusted the onerous responsibilities of the police chief and the vigilance chief to the same officer when both are fulltime jobs to be handled by different persons. The allegation is that the government finds Mr Behera "quite convenient", which is why it has given him the dual charge.

But this happens to be a far-fetched allegation because Mr Behera has been saddled with embarrassing files from his predecessor, Mr Jacob Thomas, during whose tenures scores of FIRs were filed without proper inquiry and without any substance. Consequently, many cases are destined to be closed without prosecution as they can't be committed for trial for want of evidence.    

Mr Behera's version was not available as he was indisposed and in hospital. Sources said Mr Behera had himself approached the state government to be relieved of vigilance. But why the government dithers is a question that begs
an answer.