Thiruvananthapuram: The Left Democratic Front government in Kerala that has already witnessed the ignominious exit of two ministers from the cabinet, has suffered another blow with the Supreme Court ordering reinstatement of former director general of police, T.P. Senkumar, in his post.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had removed Senkumar from his post citing his ineffectiveness in dealing with the investigations into the murder of a law student, Jisha, in Perumbavoor, and the Puttingal temple fireworks tragedy that killed dozens of people. Both incidents happened in 2016.
Senkumar continued to hold the DGP rank, but he approached the apex court for reinstatement in the role of the DGP in charge of law and order.
The court has annulled the state government’s order and ruled that Senkumar can continue in his post until his retirement on June 30. Earlier, the Kerala High Court had ruled in favour of the state government decision to remove Senkumar from the post of state police chief.
Senkumar said the apex court’s verdict was good for police officers across the country that enables them to carry on their duties as specified by the Constitution.
The verdict is a personal blow for Vijayan who had taken a strong stand against bringing back Senkumar. Last week, he had also brought on board Raman Srivastava, a former DGP of the state, as the chief minister’s adviser on police affairs.
Reacting to the verdict, Vijayan said: “It is hoped that the details of the verdict will be available soon. Once that is received, the government will take whatever steps that are legally necessary.”
Incumbent state police chief, Loknath Behra, said: “We are government servants, these are routine things”.
If the apex court verdict is implemented in spirit, it would mean a change of position for Behera, and the reinstatement of Senkumar in the post for just over two months.
Vijayan’s Communist Party of India-Marxist colleague V.S. Achuthanandan said the court’s verdict regarding Senkumar had to be implemented. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy said, “Senkumar has got justice” and added that he was a good police officer.
