High court upholds Kerala police official’s suspension

KOCHI - The Kerala High Court Friday declined to stay Inspector General of Police Tomin J. Thachenkery’s suspension by the state government for violating service rules, upheld by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

The high court denied to stay the tribunal’s verdict. But it accepted Thachenkery’s petition and asked the tribunal to finish the case without delay. The court also said the tribunal should take it up after the Onam holidays get over next week.

Thachenkery was suspended in April after Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan was told that the police officer did not take permission for his trip to the Middle East.

After his suspension, Thachenkery approached the CAT for justice.

The tribunal last Friday ruled that the chief minister has all the powers to suspend an official if he has violated service rules and also asked the ongoing inquiry to be completed in four months.

After the verdict, Thachenkery announced he would approach the high court to get a stay.

He got a rude jolt when last month the state government informed the CAT that it was unable to take him back into service as the probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against him might be thwarted.

In June, union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said an inquiry must be conducted by the NIA into the allegations that Thachenkery met men with suspected terror links during his visit to Qatar.

The central government arrived at this decision after Indian embassy officials in Qatar informed it about Thachenkery’s visit and meetings in the Middle East.