Answering the allegations of Stalin in the Assembly, he said the apex court had given its interim verdict on police reforms on July 3. Arguing before the court, Attorney General KK Venugopal himself had stated that only five states including Tamil Nadu had followed the rules in DGP appointment. Tamil Nadu had sent a selection list to the Union Public Service Commission for the latter’s opinion, he had said. His arguments clearly showed that Tamil Nadu had followed the existing rules in the appointment.

In the interim order given by the Supreme Court, it had given new guidelines for DGP appointment. He also rejected the contention of Congress floor leader KR Ramaswamy that a DGP could not hold the post for more than two years. The rule only says that he should hold the post for at least two years and asserted that Rajendran’s appointment had been done according to the rules.

Earlier, Stalin who raised the issue said the court had given its guidelines stating that the state should not appoint in-charge DGPs that too at the time of retirement. The court had also stated that such police officials appointed as DGP in-charge after retirement should not hold power for two years.

The present DGP was in-charge of law and order for ten months and nominated as full time DGP on the day of his retirement. Besides, he had been posted for years and this is clearly in violation of the Supreme Court judgment, Stalin said.

Many of the young officials are dreaming about reaching the DGP post, but they are deprived of their chances and retiring without getting the much sought-after post. Besides, a CBI enquiry is pending against the present DGP, he said besides appealing to the state government to cancel the appointment and nominate a new one according to the Supreme Court directions.

Devotees rescued from Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage in Nepal thanked Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in Chennai on Thursday.

Two families of 18 devotees met Palaniswami in his office and thanked him and the state government for taking steps to rescue them. The 18 devotees from Tamil Nadu were struck at Simikot in Nepal, due to rough weather and when the state government received the information about their condition they requested the External Affairs Ministry to extend help.Following that a special charter flight was sent to Simikot and the stranded pilgrims were taken to Nepalgunj. In the meantime, the officials from Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi rushed to Nepalgunj and brought the pilgrims safely to New Delhi.

In the meantime, body of Ramachandran (69), from Andipatti in Theni district, who died due to breathlessness, was taken to New Delhi on Thursday evening and from there, his body is expected to reach Chennai by midnight. Following that his body would be taken to Andipatti.

The Chief Minister, in his reply to a question posted by Leader of Opposition MK Stalin, in the Assembly, said that the body of Ramachandran was kept in Katmandu Hospital and Ramachandran’s kin went to Katmandu to bring it.