Supreme Court order on T P Senkumar's case is no setback, says Pinarayai Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayai Vijayan told the Assembly on Monday that the Supreme Court order on Mr T.P. Senkumar’s case was no setback to the government. He also denied reports that the state had apologised to the court and maintained that the fine of Rs 25,000 imposed by the court was not part of any contempt proceedings.

Flaying his stand, the Opposition staged a walkout and also demanded that the fine should be paid by the chief minister himself.

Replying to the notice given by Mr K. Muraleedharan, (Cong), for an adjournment motion on the Supreme Court order directing the government to pay Rs 25,000, the chief minister said that the review and curative petitions were normal procedures and that the government filed a review petition on the basis of the advice given by the advocate-general. The fine was not an action for contempt. The reports that the government had apologised to the court were also baseless as the order did not mention any contempt. The government did not show any disrespect to the Supreme Court order at any point, he said.

He also maintained that the previous UDF government had appointed Mr. Senkumar as head of the police force and not as the state police chief. It had not followed the procedures of forming a selection committee despite a recommendation made by the then chief secretary. Moreover, another IPS officer senior to him (Mahesh Kumar Singla), who was on central deputation, had expressed his willingness to join the post.

Mr. Vijayan recalled a series of adverse remarks passed by the court during the term of the UDF government. “If it is a slap on the government, then it was a series of slaps on the face of the previous government,” he said.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said that senior lawyer Sidharth Luthra, who appeared for the state government, had apologised to the SC. Mr. Chennithala also demanded that the fine of Rs 25,000 should be borne by the chief minister. Justifying the appointment of the state police chief by the previous UDF government, Mr. Chennithala said that though Mr. Singla had informed of his willingness to take over as SPC, his deputation would have ended only a couple of months after the then SPC K.S. Balasubramanian retired from service. Hence, the government decided to appoint Mr. Senkumar, who was the next senior to him.

He also flayed the recent shuffles in the police headquarters. “The chief minister should verify the credentials of those posted in key posts in the police headquarters. Even an officer facing a cadre review by the centre is posted there,” he said in an indirect reference to Mr. Tomin Thachankary who was posted as ADGP headquarters recently.

Mr Muraleedharan alleged that the court imposing a fine on the government for the delay in implementing the order to reinstate Mr. Senkumar as state police chief had brought shame to the state. He also flayed the posting of Mr Tomin Thachankary as ADGP Headquarters. “Thachankary had ordered the celebration of his birthday in all transport offices while he was serving as transport commissioner. By posting such an officer as ADGP Headquarters, a public holiday may be given on his next birthday,” he quipped.

Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan denied permission for the adjournment motion considering the government's stand.