Ballari violence: IPS officer Vartika Katiyar moves CAT against her transfer

Katiyar approached the CAT and filed a case against the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms seeking relief. (File Photo, enhanced using AI)

Days after the Karnataka government shunted out senior IPS officer Vartika Katiyar following violence in the Ballari district, the officer Monday moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), questioning her transfer.

Vartika Katiyar, who was the deputy inspector general (DIG) of the Ballari range, was transferred to the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement as DIG. This was after the Ballari violence on January 1, which claimed the life of Rajashekar Reddy, a Congress worker. The state government also suspended Ballari SP Pavan Nejjur, just a day after taking charge, reportedly over negligence in performing his duties.

On Monday, a bench headed by CAT member Sanjiv Kumar and Justice S Sujatha directed the state government not to take any precipitative action for not reporting at the transferred place until the next date of hearing, January 19.

Katiyar took charge as DIG of the Ballari range in July of last year. In 2014, the central government established a rule stating that no Indian Police Service (IPS) officer can be transferred within two years of their appointment. According to a source in the home department, Katiyar was transferred without reason, just six months after she assumed charge.

On January 1, the violence took place in Ballari over putting up a banner where Reddy was killed. It took a political turn after BJP and Congress leaders traded charges against each other. Later, the case was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

A senior police officer said that many IPS officers were unhappy with the government’s decision regarding them. “She (Katiyar) was at the spot and contained the situation. While the SP had to be suspended following a report over negligence, Katiyar handled the situation. It looks more like a political decision, just like how the IPS officers were suspended after the Bengaluru stampede,” the officer said.

While the government order did not cite any reasons for Katiyar’s transfer, when Home Minister G Parameshwara was asked why she was transferred, he said, “Yes, she has been transferred. Why should we give any explanation? We have transferred. You can interpret according to your wish. The chief minister has transferred as he oversees the DPAR.”