Rishiraj Singh told to clarify disrespect to home minister Ramesh Chennithala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State police chief T P Senkumar will be advising ADGP (armed police battalions) Rishiraj Singh to call on home minister Ramesh Chennithala and give a clarification on why he refused to rise from his seat on the arrival of the minister at the passing out parade function at Kerala Police Academy in Thrissur on Friday.

Mr. Senkumar is also learnt to have told Mr. Singh that his act amounted to a show of disrespect to the minister, though it can’t be considered as a protocol violation in strict sense.

Mr. Senkumar had earlier said that had Mr. Singh deliberately shown disrespect towards the minister, it was not desirable. “I don't feel Mr. Singh would do so,” he said.

Mr. Singh had already spoken to the minister over phone on the matter yesterday. “The minister told me that he could understand the situation and also said he had clarified his stand on his Facebook page,” Mr. Singh said.

Top sources in the police told DC that it was a matter of personnel courtesy to show respect to senior officials and ministers.

“The protocol book did not prescribe the behaviour of police officials on such occasions. However, it is a matter of personnel courtesy to show respect towards elected representatives who come near you, which has been followed by all police officials over these years,” a senior officer said.

Countering Rishiraj Singh's claim that as per the protocol the officer on the dais need not raise when the chief guest arrives, a senior IPS officer clarified that such protocols are prescribed on important functions attended by VVIPs and that too for security reasons.The present occasion could not be compared with it.

Mr. Singh had clarified to the minister that he was watching the parade and hence he did not notice the minister’s arrival. 

Police sources said that Mr. Singh had interacted with the minister after the passing out parade function. Both Mr Singh and the minister had clarified that there were no issues with regard to the former's transfer from KSEB chief vigilance officer post.

Meanwhile, police sources said that though Mr. Chennithala had stated in public that he was not concerned about Mr. Singh’s act, he could have been obviously embarrassed when an officer ignores him in a public venue and the image goes viral.