Madurai bench of the Madras HC calls for DGP records
Chief secretary to submit all papers by July 10.
Madurai: The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu chief secretary on Thursday to produce the entire records relating to the appointment of T K Rajendran as Director General of Police (DGP) by July 10, and also asked the chief commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai, to produce the alleged incriminating documents containing names of government officers and all other public servants, which was forward to CS for appropriate action.
The State government had passed an order appointing Mr. Rajendran as DGP by granting extension of service on the day of his superannuation on June 30, it may be recalled.
A division bench comprising Justices K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan passed this interim order on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Madurai trade unionist, K Kathiresan, challenging the appointment of Rajendran as DGP on the ground that he was allegedly involved in the 'gutkha scam' that took place during his tenure as Commissioner of Police, Chennai city.
The petitioner also contended that documents seized by I-T department while raiding the premises of 'gutkha' makers and traders allegedly revealed large scale corruption involving higher-ups.
"Though the petitioner has, in his affidavit filed in support of the writ petition made serious allegations against the fifth respondent (DGP), there are no materials before this court to substantiate these contentions. Even then, taking into account the high office to which the appointment was made by the government and the well-recognized legal principle that the institution is more important than an individual, we consider it deem and fit to direct the respondents to produce the documents," said the court.
The director of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC), Chennai, was directed to produce the materials forwarded by the chief vigilance officer/chief secretary for quick verification pursuant to the action taken by the I-T department. These should be produced in sealed covers by the respondents by July 10. However the court made it clear that the directions to produce the documents should not be construed as an expression of opinion with regard to the selection process and the appointment of Mr. T.K. Rajendran as DGP.