Chennai, Jan 29- The DMK has formally appealed to the Election Commission to shift Director General of Police (DGP) K. Ramanujam before the Lok Sabha elections.
In a statement, DMK treasurer MK Stalin urged the Election Commission to effect the DGP’s transfer as he is under extension. Ramanujam was appointed the DGP of Tamil Nadu in November, 2012 a day before he was due to retire by the J. Jayalalithaa government. As per the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Prakash Singh case, anyone who is appointed the DGP of the state enjoys a minimum tenure of two years irrespective of his or her superannuation.
The demand to shift the DGP came at a time when the Election Commission directed governments of all states and union territories not to assign election duty to police officers who are presently serving extended terms after their superannuation. It’s not clear how many of those officers are presently in Tamil Nadu, but a senior officer told India Today that their numbers may be minuscule. But a section of retired senior police officers support the demand to shift the DGP.
“I think the Opposition is correct in raising this demand. An officer gets an extension only if he or she gains the goodwill of the incumbent government. So obviously his or her loyalties will be with them. In the interest of fair elections, this is a fair demand and I see nothing wrong in it,” said Karunanidhi, a retired Superintendent of Police, to India Today Online.
The shifting of a DGP during elections is not new to Tamil Nadu. During the 2011 Assembly elections the Election Commission shifted the then DGP, Letika Saran – the first woman to hold the top post – and appointed Bhola Nath as the top cop till the election process got over. At that time, it was the AIADMK which made the demand and now it’s time for the DMK to settle its scores.
Ramanujam is considered as one of the upright officers in Tamil Nadu Police. Earlier, he served under both Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa. He was promoted to DIG by Jayalalithaa during her 1991-1996 term and later as IG by Karunanidhi during his 1996-2001 tenure. But he fell out with Karunanidhi during the 2006-2011 term. When Jayalalithaa returned to power in 2011, Ramanajum was promoted to DGP.
-Indiatoday
