The Rosaiah government, as expected, decides to stick to its guns on the controversy over the DGP’s appointment. Despite the CAT strictures which ordered shifting of incumbent Girish Kumar, the government chose to persist with him.

But to avoid the stigma of blatantly defying the tribunal, the government plans to bow to its order first to come out with a three-man list but place Girish as the top choice. The prevailing uncertain political climate in the state is also coming handy for the government to push through Girish’s name.

The move turns out to be a well-anticipated one in view of the discretionary powers vested with the state government to have its own choice of DGP to maintain the law and order. Thanks to this ‘god-send’, Rosaiah and his DGP choice Girish Kumar can heave a sigh of relief.

But here starts the debate on how often these discretionary powers were used for right reasons. Government after government has been misusing these powers to anoint their blue-eyed men as DGPs.

Until the Telugu Desam Party first came into power in 1983, successive Congress government followed the seniority norm diligently to appoint the top cop. It was under N T Rama Rao the tradition has been broken and ever since it became more of a common practice.

NTR’s idea then to ignore the seniority criterion was to put the key police task in the safe hands of the most efficient IPS officer who enjoys the government’s confidence. Successive CMs used this to their convenience elevating officers who are seven, eight names down the list thus casting a shadow on its real intent.

A few IPS officers challenged this in the past in courts and tribunals but with hardly any effect. Even in the latest episode, former DGPs S S P Yadav and Mohanty made the government sit up and take note of CAT’s strictures. But in the end, it only proves to be losing battle for them