The government has not apologised in the Supreme Court while withdrawing a plea for clarification and modification of the apex court’s order reinstating the ousted State Police Chief (SPC) T.P. Senkumar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly on Monday.
The apex court has also not imposed any fine on the government as alleged by the Opposition United Democratic Front, he said replying to K. Muraleedharan’s notice on an adjournment motion on the “insult to the government and disgrace to the State” on account of the Supreme Court order.
“The fine is not part of the Supreme Court ruling. There is no contempt. A review, clarification, and curative petition can be given in any case. It is nothing unusual and we acted as per the advice given by the Advocate General. The Law Secretary has also advised to seek the opinion of the AG,” the Chief Minister told The House.
Mr. Vijayan said the government had the right to seek clarification from the Supreme Court. The order of the apex court was binding and final. The court neither pointed out any lapses on the part of the government nor blamed it.
Mr. Senkumar was appointed as head of the police force by the previous UDF regime violating the rules and against the advice of the Chief Secretary. He was shifted as per the the laid down procedures and not overnight by the government, he added.
Stating that there had been no delay in reinstating Mr. Senkumar as the SPC, Mr. Vijayan said the Supreme Court had asked the State to remit ₹25,000 as “cost’’ to the Legal Services Committee to pay for the juvenile justice cases.
The Chief Minister also pointed out the references made by the High Court against the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during the previous UDF regime.
The Opposition walked out of the House after the Speaker denied permission to the notice. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the government should clarify whether Sidharth Luthra was representing the State.
The Supreme Court cannot be taken for a ride and only the government was unclear about the ruling, he added.
Earlier, Mr. Muraleedhran said the order of the Supreme Court was a set back to the State and insult to the people and alleged that vested interests were behind the shifting of Mr. Senkumar.
The House also witnessed heated arguments after the Speaker requested the Opposition to withdraw from moving the notice as the issue had figured twice in the Assembly and in view of the case coming up in the Supreme Court.
After noisy scenes and complaints that the rights of the Opposition were being infringed upon, the Speaker said the discussion should not in any way influence the court and should keep high standards.
