Congress questions appointment of KB Singh as new Odisha DGP

Raising question on the appointment of K B Singh as Odisha's Director General of Police, opposition Congress today slammed the state government for not filling up posts of chairpersons of Lokayukta, Human Rights Commission and Information Commission for months.
The issue was raised in the assembly by leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress while participating in a debate on the supplementary demand for the departments of Home and General Administration.
"The appointment of the DGP is not in accordance with the Supreme Court directive. State government appointed K B Singh as the new DGP despite Orissa High Court indicting him in a case," Mishra said alleging that all prize postings are made not as per the law, but by whims of the chief minister.

"Whoever dances to the tune of 3rd floor (CMO), gets the prize posting," Mishra said adding appointment of an officer who had been indicted by the court, has hurt the morale of the honest and efficient officers in the state.
Coming down heavily on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Leader of Opposition said it was he (CM) who had promised to make the Odisha Lokayukta functional within six months. "Though more than six months have passed since the President gave his assent to the Odisha Lokayukta Bill, 2014, no one was appointed as the chairperson," Mishra alleged.
Mishra also said that posts like chairpersons of the Human Rights Commission and Information Commission and Lokayukta remained vacant, people were being denied justice. "Here is a government and the chief minister who does not respect the law, the opposition or go by the directives of the Supreme Court," Mishra said.

The Congress leader said the Lokayukta is appointed to enable people to approach it on corruption cases with less expenses and quick justice. But, that is not happening as the state government did not appoint the Lokayukta, he said.
The leader of opposition also raised question on the fate of the Special Court, vigilance probe in the mining scam and land scam.