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Huge setback for Left govt. in Kerala: SC scraps removal of state police chief

  • Supreme Court directed the state government to reinstate Senkumar "considering the overall facts and circumstances and preceding events and incidents."
  • Senkumar had argued that that Pinarayi Vijayan government was taking revenge on him for conducting independent and impartial investigation into the political killings.
  • Pinarayi Vijayan had alleged that Senkumar was playing politics.
SC scraps removal of Kerala police chief

 

 

 

In a huge setback to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government in Kerala, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the reinstatement of Senior IPS officer TP Senkumar who was removed as the State Police Chief just after Pinarayi Vijayan government assumed office in May last year. This would mean that the incumbent Loknath Behra will have to make way for Senkumar.

 

A bench comprising Justice Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta directed the state government to reinstate Senkumar "considering the overall facts and circumstances and preceding events and incidents."

 

This would mean that the incumbent Loknath Behra will have to make way for Senkumar.

 

Senkumar had argued that that Pinarayi Vijayan government was taking revenge on him for conducting independent and impartial investigation into the political killings including the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader TP Chandrashekharan in which CPM leaders and workers were convicted.

 

The state govt. cited Puttingal Temple fireworks tragedy and the probe into the Jisha murder case against Senkumar and stated that his initiative in these cases was not 'chief-like.'

 

In response to an adjournment motion in Kerala Assembly on 28 February, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had strongly criticized Senkumar. The CM said the IPS officer was playing politics and spreading canards about state government. He even suggested that the police officer was instigated by the BJP.
 

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

The state government had roped in senior counsels PP Rao and Harish Salve in the case. Senior advocate Dushyant Dave appeared in the SC for Senkumar. “I am happy that the SC upheld rule of law,” Senkumar said after hearing the verdict.
 

 I still have all my vertebras intact. I have never appeased anybody for any posting: Senkumar wrote after he was removed in May last year.

 

TP Senkumar was removed as the State Police Chief in May last year. He had year left when the IPS officer was shifted immediately after the new government came to power.

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


"I still have all my vertebras intact. I have never appeased anybody for any posting," Senkumar responded just after his removal.

 

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


 

 

 

 

 

 

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