The Centre was today directed by the Delhi High Court to respond to a PIL challenging the appointment of Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, alleging that he has been facing charges of power misuse and rights violations.
A division bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Jayant Nath sought response from the Home Ministry by May 29 on a plea filed by M S Devasayam, a retired IAS officer from Chennai, seeking to quash the appointment of Kumar as Police Commissioner.
The court's order came after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Rajeeve Mehra appearing for the ministry said that the petitioner's representation has been received and a decision would be taken in 15 days.
Earlier on February 27, the court had asked the former IAS officer, who had approached it, to make a representation before the home ministry and directed the ministry to decide it within eight weeks.
Devasayam today again moved the court after expiry of eight weeks time saying the ministry has not yet taken any decision on his representation.
Seeking two weeks more time to take a decision, the ASG said, "I apologize for the delay. We have received the representation from the petitioner and decision would be taken within 15 days. I sought two more weeks to decide the representation."
According to the PIL, "the police officer is facing serious allegations of misuse and abuse of powers, fabrication of documents and violation of human rights."
Kumar, a 1976-batch Indian Police Service officer, was appointed as police commissioner of the city on June 28 last year.
