Thiruvananthapuram: The state government is sitting on a recommendation to appoint senior IPS officer T.P. Senkumar and retired IAS officer V. Somasundaran as Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) members, despite assuring the High Court in October last year that the list would be sent to the Governor within two weeks.
This has triggered yet another allegation of vindictive action against Mr. Senkumar after his removal from the state police chief post by the CPM-led LDF government. The delay could also invite contempt of court proceedings.
It was in October 2016 a high-level committee headed by High Court Chief Justice recommended the names of Mr. Senkumar and Mr. Somasundaran for the two vacancies in KAT. Owing to the government’s delay in forwarding the list to the Governor, a Thiruvananthapuram native approached the High Court. The advocate-general subsequently assured the HC that the list would be forwarded in two weeks and that after consultations with the Governor it would be sent to the centre within another week for further steps for appointment. Based on this, the HC disposed of the petition on April 6. But even after three weeks, the file has not reached the Gover-nor’s office, official sources confirmed.
Sources said that though the government was earlier planning to put a dissent note on Mr. Senkumar's appointment citing his removal from the police chief post, that plan suffered a setback as the SC scrapped the charges cited by the government for Mr Senkumar’s removal.
Though there were unconfirmed reports that the government was planning to send back the list to the selection committee seeking names of more persons, sources said that it has no such powers.
Meanwhile sources at the Chief Minister's office said that the delay was due to administrative procedures.
