RK Dutta to be Karnataka's new DG and IGP?

Bangalore: Special Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and senior most Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in the state, Rupak Kumar Dutta is the new Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) of Karnataka, sources in the government told this newspaper. Mr Dutta will take charge from the incumbent Om Prakash on January 31, when he steps down from office on superannuation.

The state government has written to the Centre to relieve Mr Dutta so that he could be repatriated to his cadre state. As per the All India Service rules, the cadre state has the first claim on its officers and can request the central government to relieve any of its officers who are on central deputation for posting in the state. The government order on Mr. Dutta’s appointment is, however, yet to be issued.

Mr Dutta belongs to the 1981 batch of IPS and was the special director, Central Bureau of Investigation, before being posted to the MHA on December 1 last year. It is a coincidence that Chief Secretary Subhash Khuntia also belongs to the 1981 batch of Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The IPS fraternity in Karnataka has welcomed the news of Mr. Dutta’s ‘probable’ appointment. “He is the senior most IPS officer and rightfully deserves to head the police force in the state. The chief minister has given credence to seniority and merit, which is a good and healthy precedent. It is a motivation for officers that with proven track record their seniority will be respected for promotions and postings,” chorused some senior IPS officers on condition of anonymity.