The State government on Sunday appeared to be reconciled to the view that it had no option but to obey the Supreme Court’s order to reinstate T.P. Senkumar as State Police Chief
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s hurried words to journalists in Malappuram appeared to reflect the inexorability.
“I have already said that by the laws of our land, the decision of the Supreme Court is final. Those who expected that the verdict would be implemented the very next day of its promulgation could have had some issues about it. There is no lack of clarity on the matter,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Chief Minister’s comment gave traction to the theory that the government could not any more dither on Mr. Sen’s reinstation.
The ranking officer appeared to have forced the State’s hand on Saturday by moving a contempt petition against Chief Secretary Nalini Netto in the Supreme Court.
Mr. Sen argued that Ms. Netto, who had allegedly orchestrated his ouster, was now stalling for time to implement the order.
ADVERTISEMENT
He deposed that her action tantamount to disrespect of the Supreme Court. Mr. Sen has also prayed that he be allowed to serve the period he lost as SPC due to his “arbitrary and illegal” ejection in May last. The apex court is slated to hear the matter next week. Officials said the government has sought legal advice to counter Mr. Sen’s allegations in the Supreme Court.
M.V. Jayarajan, private secretary to the Chief Minister, told The Hindu that Mr. Pinarayi’s words in Malappuram accurately reflected the government’s stance on the matter. He hinted that the Cabinet would consider Mr. Sen’s reinstatement and arrive at an apt decision. “In Kerala, the practice is that such decisions are taken in the Cabinet. It might not be so in other States,” he said.
The perceived delay in reinstating Mr. Sen had drawn criticism from Opposition parties. Bharatiya Janata Party State secretary Kummanam Rajasekharan said on Sunday that the government’s dithering on the matter was a challenge to the rule of law. The government was conspiring to circumvent the verdict instead of implementing it. Even a ranking police officer could expect no justice from the Left government, he alleged.