Senkumar ‘unhappy’ over delay in appointment as state police chief

Kochi: Five days after the Supreme Court ordered the Kerala government to re-instate T.P. Senkumar as the state police chief, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has yet to take action in the matter and is learnt to have sought fresh legal advice from experts.

On Saturday, Senkumar told reporters in the state capital that he was not unduly worried as his counsel will take "appropriate action at the appropriate time".

He declined to confirm reports that his counsel is set to approach the Supreme Court on Monday to bring to their attention that the state government has not acted.

Vijayan, who Saturday arrived at Kochi to take part in a party meeting, ducked media queries on the delay in Senkumar's reinstatement.

On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered the Kerala government to restore Senkumar as the Director General of Police after noting that his removal in May last year was "arbitrary".

Vijayan, who is also the Home Minister and is known to be a tough customer, was presented a report from the Law Secretary P.G. Harindranath, who has recommended that Senkumar should be appointed without further delay. But he is learnt to have sought fresh legal advice from other experts.

The Vijayan government removed Senkumar in 2016 after a public outcry over alleged mishandling of a temple fire tragedy and a murder case, which the Supreme Court negated and ordered for the reinstatement.

Senkumar is to retire from service on June 30.

Kaleesheweran Raj, a legal expert, told the media that the state government is inviting trouble by delaying obeying the apex court's directive.