THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala
Police Act, 2011, has gone for a
toss again with the government ordering a reshuffle of top police officers. None of the eight SPs who have been transferred from the districts have completed the mandatory two-year period as stipulated in the Act.
According to section 97 of the Act, "the government shall ensure a minimum tenure of two years for police officers posted as state police chief, IGs in charge of ranges, SPs or commissioners in charge of police districts and station house officers". The only exception from this, as per the Act is, is in cases of superannuation, promotion, reversion, suspension and leave, which is not applicable in the case of any of the officers transferred last Tuesday.
Of the eight district police chiefs transferred, the longest tenure in the district was served by
Debesh Kumar Behera who served for one year and 11 months as SP Malappuram. While A Srinivas, who was transferred as Kollam commissioner, had served in the post for only four months, Rahul R Nair, Arul R B Krishna and Yatheesh Chandra served for nine months in Thrissur city,
Wayanad and Thrissur rural, respectively. The other three officers - Pratheesh Kumar, M K Pushkaran and K G Simon- served for only one year and four months at Palakkad, Kozhikode rural and Kasaragod, respectively.
After the
LDF government took charge in May 2016, there has been transfer of SPs in June 2016, January, 2017 and August, 2017. The SC had in 2006, in the Prakash Singh and Others versus Union of India case, directed all state governments to frame rules for ensuring minimum tenure for police officers.
"Police officers on operational duties in the field like the IG of police in- charge of zone, DIG of police in-charge of range, SP in-charge of district and SHO in-charge of a police station shall also have a prescribed minimum tenure of two years unless it is found necessary to remove them prematurely following disciplinary proceedings against them or their conviction in a criminal offense or in a case of corruption or if the incumbent is otherwise incapacitated from discharging his responsibilities," directed the SC.
On the basis of this order, the government had framed the
Kerala Police Act, 2011, and was passed during the tenure of the previous LDF government.
The government is yet to appoint the chief for north zone after Rajesh Diwan retired last month. It is learnt that that the government is planning to appoint IGs in policing zones and DIGs in the ranges, which is the actual structure of the cadre. Additionally, an ADGP in charge of overall law and order will also be appointed.
It is learnt that
Alappuzha SP S Surendran, who is from the 2005 batch of officials and is due for promotion as DIG, is the front-runner for the post of DIG, Kannur.
Balram Kumar Upadhyaya, who currently holds the post, is being considered as IG, north zone. But the government is waiting for the completion of Chengannur bypoll before transferring Surendran from Alappuzha, it is learnt.
