Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 29 (PTI) Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Wednesday that suspended ADGP M R Ajithkumar was unlikely to be promoted as DGP as his suspension remains in force and has not been stayed by the administrative tribunal.
Chennithala told reporters that Ajithkumar’s name was on top of the list approved for promotion to DGP by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan last year.
The minister said that on the normal course, he would have got the promotion as he was the senior most on the list.
He also said that a promotion of an officer under the All India Services can be obstructed only if there is a suspension or a disciplinary action or a chargesheet is filed in a criminal case against him.
“In the instant case, in view
of the officer’s suspension and his plea for staying the same being not granted by the tribunal, his promotion is not likely to take place according to the prevailing rules,” he said.
The Kerala government on July 24 issued an order suspending Ajithkumar pending disciplinary proceedings over allegations that he interfered with the investigation into the alleged assault on Youth Congress workers during the Nava Kerala Sadas programme in Alappuzha in 2023.
The suspension order was based on the findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the assault case registered at the Alappuzha South Police Station.
The case relates to the alleged assault on Youth Congress workers, including current Alappuzha MLA AD Thomas, by members of the Chief Minister’s security and escort team during the Nava Kerala Sadas programme on December 15, 2023.
Chennithala said that in the instant case, proper procedure was followed before the officer was suspended. PTI HMP KH
