CHENNAI: Questioning the government whether it could flout the norms for selection and appointment to the top post of the State Police force, Leader of Opposition MK Stalin said that sidelining of senior officials would have a demoralising effect on the force.
Winding up the two-day debate on the demand for grants for Home, Prohibition and Excise department in the Assembly on Friday, he asked what the compulsion was for giving a two-year extension to TK Rajendran, who was appointed as DGP (L&O) on the date of his retirement.
The Tamil Nadu Police Reforms Act, 2013, mandated that the DGP must be appointed from five senior-most officials empanelled by UPSC having regard to length of service, good record and range of experience, he said.
But Radhakrishan, a 1983 batch officer and KP Mahendran, belonging to 1984 batch with 21 months of service left, were overlooked in choosing the DGP, he alleged, besides questioning the track record of TK Rajendran.
Stalin asked, “Will not sidelining of senior officials demoralise the police force?” How could you flout the same norms that were framed by the government, he asked.
EPS denies flouting of norms
Denying the charge of flouting of norms, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said the appointment of DGP, with a two-year tenure, was made by following the norms.
The government chose one officer from the list of five forwarded to UPSC as per norms and procedures, he said.
Referring to the Gutkha diary, Stalin questioned the authority of an officer in the rank of Additional DGP, heading the DVAC, to probe the charges against a DGP rank officer.