Did you change DGP after Mahija’s stir? SC takes a dig at Kerala govt.

 

 

Taking a dig at the Kerala Govt., Supreme Court on Monday asked whether it removed state DGP after Mahija's stir. The court was considering the petition filed by former state police chief T P Senkumar, who was removed just after Pinarayi Vijayan government assumed office. 

 

The court said it noticed that a woman was on a fast stir for the past few days. "Did the government shift DGP because of that," it asked sarcastically. The government counsel had nothing else to respond than say no.

 

TP Senkumar

The main contention of the government to justify the removal of TP Senkumar was his alleged lapses in policing. The government cited incidents including Puttingal tragedy and the murder of Jisha, a Dalit law student from Perumbavoor.

It was in response to these arguments that the apex court took the sarcastic swipe at the government. Earlier on the day, the court had turned down the government's request to postpone the hearing.
 

Also read: "I still have all my vertebras intact," DGP Senkumar
 

TP Senkumar was removed as the State Police Chief in May last year. This was his first response to the removal: "I still have all my vertebras intact. I have never appeased anybody for any posting."

 

Senkumar went on to challenge the government decision in the court, after his case was rejected by the Central Administrative Tribunal. Senkumar alleged political vendetta behind the removal.

Related: Troubles await Pinarayi Vijayan despite 'troublemaker's' exit
 

 The SC will continue hearing in the case on Tuesday.  If the verdict goes against the government, it would  further complicate things for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. His reinstatement would unsettle the balance in the bureaucracy and would necessitate a reshuffle at the top.