The Supreme Court of India on Friday, May 5 issued a contempt of court notice and slapped a penalty of Rs. 25,000 on Kerala government after rejecting its plea seeking modification or clarity on the court's direction in connection with the TP Senkumar issue.
In an order issued on April 24 by a division bench comprising Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta, the government was directed to reinstate TP Senkumar as the Police Chief of the state. The apex court issued the order while considering TP Senkumar's contempt petition over the delay in his reinstatement as the police chief. Senior Lawyer Sidharth, who appeared for the state, opposed imposition of the cost since the state was withdrawing its plea. However, Justice Madan B Lokur overruled his objection saying: "We can impose cost even if you are withdrawing the petition."
Senkumar, in his petition filed through Advocate Haris Beeran, alleged that the government is delaying the implementation of the court's order even after Senkumar requesting Chief Secretary Nalini Netto in writing on April 25, 2017 to carry out the directions of the apex Court. Earlier, Senior Lawyer Dushyant Dave, who appeared for the petitioner then, had accused the state of making a mockery of the judicial process. "When the state made its submission, the time taken was because the file was under process but when he was removed it only took 24 hours."
The senior lawyer had also argued that the removal of the former state DGP by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan could only be seen in the context of his 'independent thinking and thorough investigation' into the political violence that rocked the state in which several CPI (M) functionaries had come under investigation. The sacking had nothing to do with the petitioner's handling of the Jisha murder case or the Puttingal fire tragedy, two incidents that the state claimed showed his incompetence, the lawyer submitted. Senkumar has also appealed the apex court to consider extending his two-year tenure, set to end on May 22, 2017, to make up for the loss of service due to his removal from the post.
The Kerala government is now expected to reply to the notice on Monday, May 8.
