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Chennai, Nov 23 (IANS) In a strong hit back at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Tamil Nadu minister S Raghupathi said the former chief minister has “no moral authority or capacity” to question the delay in the appointment of a full-time Director General of Police (DGP).
Reghupathi said Palaniswami’s criticism was politically motivated and historically incorrect.
Addressing reporters, the minister said, “EPS is now lecturing us on why a permanent DGP has not been appointed. He forgets that it was the AIADMK government that first introduced the idea of an acting DGP in Tamil Nadu.”
He recalled that in 2011, the then AIADMK regime had appointed Ramanujam as Director General of Police (Intelligence) and Acting Director General of Police for Law and Order, while another officer, Rajendran, was named as Acting Director General of Police.
“Even Uttar Pradesh had five acting DGPs at one time, and one acting DGP is still present there. On what basis is the EPS criticizing us?” he asked.
Reghupathy reiterated that the real reason behind the delay was the central government and UPSC’s insistence on appointing “their favorite officers” instead of considering Tamil Nadu’s choice.
The state’s top police post has been vacant since August 31, when Shankar Jiwal retired and G Venkataraman was named acting DGP.
Tamil Nadu submitted a panel of about eight senior IPS officers, including Seema Agarwal, Rajeev Kumar, Sandeep Rai Rathore and G Venkatraman, to UPSC to join the panel.
However, during a contempt hearing on September 7-8, the Supreme Court questioned the state on continuing to appoint an acting DGP, citing the Prakash Singh guidelines that discourage ad-hoc appointments.
Subsequently, the UPSC Empanelment Committee shortlisted Seema Agarwal, Rajeev Kumar and Sandeep Rai Rathore in its September 26 meeting.
The state government formally objected to the shortlist, saying the Center was attempting to take away Tamil Nadu’s administrative autonomy.
On November 7, the Supreme Court sought the state’s response on a plea seeking contempt action for non-compliance of its earlier orders. Reiterating the state’s stand, Raghupathi said Tamil Nadu would not accept a DGP “imposed” by the central government.
“This is a challenge to the rights of the state. Tamil Nadu will never allow its constitutional right to be usurped,” he said.
–IANS
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