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Centre's directive: TN to relieve DGP, undecided on other cops

N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras

In a near about-turn, the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday decided to relieve the Director-General of Police, Dr R Rajagopalan, for appointment as the chief of the high-profile National Security Guards, as demanded by the Centre.

The formal orders would be issued later in the day, according to official sources.

At present DGP-Training, Dr Rajagopalan's appointment as NSG Director would take effect from the day he assumes office, according to the Centre's original notification.

The new decision is a shift in the position of the state government, which had earlier held that as DGP-Training, Dr Rajagopalan was holding a very crucial posting, and his services could not be spared.

Coming a day after the chief minister's high-voltage vow to protect the state's rights, and also her defence of the state police in her Independence Day speech on Wednesday, the decision to relieve Dr Rajagopalan is apparently aimed at assuaging the feelings of the Centre.

While meeting the Centre's demands half-way, the state government seems to expect the Union home ministry, not to press ahead with its demand for relieving three other IPS officers.

The Centre had followed up its demand for the services of Dr Rajagopalan, with a near-similar request for the services of the Madras Police Commissioner, K Muthukaruppan, the Joint Commissioner, S George, and the Deputy Commissioner, Christopher Nelson.

All three officials, as may be recalled, were associated with the alleged police assault of former chief minister M Karunanidhi in Madras.

In the case of these three officers, the state government has maintained that the Centre's request as 'punitive action', and violative of transfer rules.

Sources pointed out, "Neither the state government, nor the officials concerned have sought the transfer."

Against this, Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley is on record that the Centre had the final authority in such matters under Section 6 of the All-India Police Service Rules.

He had also referred to the Madras Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal declining to stay possible transfers when the three officials had filed a petition last week.

With the Centre issuing an advice-reminder as against the earlier 'request' on Tuesday, asking the three officials to be relieved by Wednesday, it remains to be seen how the home ministry would react to the new development.

With a public interest litigation challenging the Centre's requests coming up for hearing before the Madras High Court next Wednesday, the state government is reportedly awaiting the next move of the home ministry in this regard, said sources.

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