Supreme Court verdict on T P Senkumar removal tomorrow

Thiruvananthapuram: The Supreme Court is expected to issue its verdict on the removal of T. P. Senkumar as DGP on April 24. The state government, in its affidavit, had cited Senkumar’s handling of Jisha murder and the Puttingal fireworks tragedy as the reasons behind his removal. Mr Senkumar, on his part, wants the tenure denied him as DGP returned as compensation. (Mr Senkumar, who had a tenure of two years as DGP, was booted out of office after one year, and he is due for retirement in two months.)

Mr Senkumar, in his special leave petition, had also alleged that his removal was vendetta for the role he played in bringing the culprits behind T. P. Chandrasekharan’s murder to justice. The government’s case against Mr Senkumar is built on the report of then additional chief secretary (in charge of Home) Nalini Netto. The government’s attempt to postpone the hearing on April 10, because of the absence of its senior lawyer Harish Salve, was rejected by the apex court.

The state was also unable to provide convincing replies to a couple of pointed questions raised by the court. Firstly, the court wanted more documentary evidence for the state’s claim of 'public dissatisfaction' against Mr Senkumar. Secondly, it wanted to know why different yardsticks were used for Mr Senkumar and the incumbent DGP Loknath Behra. The court had orally asked why Behra was not removed even though the strike of Jishnu's mother had gone on for five days.