×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Kerala reinstates Senkumar as DGP

Last Updated 05 May 2017, 20:35 IST

 The CPM-led Kerala government on Friday cleared the reinstatement of T P Senkumar as the state police chief.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reportedly signed the order formalising Senkumar’s re-appointment and the order is likely to be issued on Saturday.

The move came on a day the government suffered another reverse in its legal face-off with Senkumar, as the Supreme Court imposed Rs 25,000 as costs on the government for seeking a clarification on the apex court’s earlier order to reinstate him and issued a notice to the state in a contempt petition.

The SC rap for delaying implementation of its April 24 order had triggered criticism against the government. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the Supreme Court directive was on expected lines and anyone with a functional understanding of the law could see it coming. “This is a response to the arrogance of the chief minister,” he said.

The Opposition has said Senkumar, who was removed as police chief immediately after the Left government assumed office in May last year, was targeted for his positions in important cases involving CPM leaders. The government’s reluctance in reinstating him in office, even 10 days after the court order, had also invited criticism from legal circles.

The state government, however, has maintained that it was only exploring all available options to seek clarifications on the apex court’s order. “A clarification was sought because the government was within its rights to do so,” said Law Minister A K Balan.

In what is seen as a related development, the government on Friday effected another re-jig in the police force, with orders out on a reshuffle involving about 100 DySPs. This follows Thursday’s reshuffle of senior level officers.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 05 May 2017, 20:35 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT