T.P. Senkumar on Saturday took charge as Kerala police chief, a day after he was reinstated as the Director General of Police by the state government.
Senkumar was unceremoniously shunted out the day Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assumed office in May last year.
After taking charge, Senkumar told reporters that at the moment he will not comment on the ongoing legal issues with the state government including the contempt petition he has filed against Chief Secretary Nalini Netto which is coming up on May 9.
"At the moment my priority as an important head of a department is towards the state government's policies, especially issues concerning security of women and children. I don't expect any sort of confrontation from anywhere," Senkumar said, adding that he will meet the Chief Minister at the earliest.
In the afternoon, Senkumar told media that he has got his reinstatement order and will assume charge as state police chief later in the day.
At 4.25 p.m., Senkumar, in police uniform, arrived at the police headquarters and was given a ceremonial welcome by an impressive guard of honour.
More From This Section
Later, taking the baton from Loknath Behra, who replaced him last year, Senkumar took his seat.
Meanwhile, a miffed Vijayan told reporters in Alappuzha that the state government went to the apex court because some clarifications were needed.
"The Supreme Court is the last word and hence the reinstatement has been made," said Vijayan.
Former State Congress President V.M. Sudheeran said this is the biggest setback for the arrogant Vijayan government.
"All wish that through this setback, Vijayan will understand how to behave," said Sudheeran.
Former State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said the law has won and Vijayan has suffered a major setback.
Senkumar was moved out of office the day Vijayan assumed charge in May last year for the "poor handling" of a firecracker tragedy at a temple and the Jisha murder case.
After Senkumar's petition against his removal was turned down by the Central Administrative Tribunal and subsequently by the Kerala High Court, the Supreme Court on April 24 directed the Kerala government to reinstate him.
However, the Vijayan government failed to implement the order in time.
Finally, on Friday morning, the apex court, hearing a clarification petition about its April 24 order slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on the state government for wasting the court's time.
The court said they knew what to do if its orders were not implemented.
Hours after the order, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday night reinstated Senkumar as the police chief.
Now all eyes are on the contempt petition filed by Senkumar that Chief Secretary Nalini Netto was delaying his posting and this petition is coming up on May 9.
Senkumar is set to retire on June 30.
--IANS
sg/lok/bg