Bengaluru DCP K Annamalai resigns, to pursue public service
Bengaluru, May 28: Deputy Commissioner of police (Bengaluru South) K Annamalai, who is popularly known as 'Singham' of Karnataka, Tuesday resigned from the Indian Police Service, to pursue "public service."
Annamalai met Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in the presence of state Home Minister M B Patil and informed him about his resignation.
He thanked the chief minister for providing good opportunity to perform his duties. The Chief Minister also wished him the best, a release from the chief minister's office said.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Kumaraswamy, Annamalai said the chief minister insisted that he reconsider his decision as the state was in need of his services, "but I told him I have made my decision, CM then conveyed his best wishes for my future endeavour."
Annamalai said he was not quitting the job because of any political pressure.
He lauded political leaders, including Kumaraswamy and former Chief Minister Siddarmaiah, for giving him the freedom to do his duty.
"The whole state has treated me with respect...I could have worked for a few more days, but some decisions had to be taken..I thank everyone," he added.
Known as "upright", "honest" and "brave" officer, Annamalai was so popular among the people during his stint as SP of Udupi and Chikkamagaluru districts that there were protests following his transfer.
On reasons for his decision, Annamalai said, "Have completed ten years in service...I believe an individual can achieve three passions in a lifetime, among them is public service, in the civil service I think I have achieved my scope."
"So I wanted to go outside (of civil service) and do things differently. Right now I haven't taken any decision, will need three-four months time. I will think and take a decision."
Annamalai, a 2011 batch IPS officer hails from Karur in Tamil Nadu. He began his career as an assistant superintendent of police, Karkala sub-division in 2013.
On joining politics, Annamalai said he has not taken any decision and not spoken to any political or politician about it. "I need 3-4 months break."
However, there were reports in the media that he was in touch with some senior RSS functionaries.
Meanwhile, D Roopa Inspector-General of Police, Railways claimed Annamalai is plunging into politics.
"Spoke to Annamalai, IPS .@DCPSouthBCP. He has tendered resignation today.
He is plunging into politics. It requires guts, boldness to leave cushy, secure, hard earned IPS job. Its heartening to see such achievers n (sic) youngsters diving into politics.
Wishing him all the best," she tweeted.
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Order blocking YouTube channel '4PM' withdrawn, SC told
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court was on Tuesday informed that an order blocking YouTube channel "4PM", which has a subscriber base of 73 lakh, was withdrawn.
"They have withdrawn the blocking order," senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, informed a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih.
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by Sanjay Sharma, who is the editor of digital news platform 4PM, seeking quashing of an order blocking the channel.
The plea claimed the blocking was effected by the intermediary pursuant to an undisclosed direction allegedly issued by the Centre citing vague grounds of "national security" and "public order".
Sibal requested the bench that the plea be tagged with separate pending petitions which have challenged Rule 16 of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.
He said Sharma's petition also sought quashing of Rule 16 of the 2009 Rules.
Rule 16 says strict confidentiality shall be maintained regarding all the requests and complaints received and actions taken thereof.
The plea also sought striking down or reading down Rule 9 of the Blocking Rules, 2009, to mandate issuance of a notice, opportunity of hearing and communication of a copy of the interim order to the originator or creator of the content prior to passing of a final order.
The bench tagged the plea with the pending separate pleas.
On May 5, the top court sought responses from the Centre and others on Sharma's plea, which said the blocking was a "chilling assault on journalistic independence" and the right of public to receive information.
The plea, filed through advocate Talha Abdul Rahman, said no blocking order or underlying complaint was furnished to the petitioner, violating both statutory and constitutional safeguards.
The petition said it was a settled law that the Constitution does not permit blanket removal of content without an opportunity to be heard.
"'National security' and 'public order' are not talismanic invocations to insulate executive action from scrutiny," it said.
The plea said the action was not only ultra vires the parent statute but also strikes at the core of democratic accountability ensured by a free press.
"The blocking is a chilling assault on journalistic independence and the right of the public to receive information," it said.
Seeking a direction to the Centre to produce the order with reasons and records, if any, issued to the intermediary for blocking the channel, it asked for a direction to quash the blocking order.
The plea said the petitioner's YouTube channel was blocked without giving any fair opportunity to clarify or justify his case.
Blocking Rules, 2009, including Rules 8, 9, and 16, infringe upon fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, particularly the rights to freedom of speech and expression, right to equality and the right to life and personal liberty, it added.
It said the authorities concerned have a duty under the law to ensure that blocking of YouTube channels were not done arbitrarily, suppressing the freedom of speech and expression.
