Kochi, Aug 19: The Kerala High Court has directed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department to personally appear before it on Aug 20 to explain the failure to comply with a previous directive in a complaint alleging that DGP S Sreejith attended the inauguration of a private enterprise abroad while wearing his police uniform.
Justice A Badharudeen issued the order on a petition filed by Dipin Edavana of Kannur, an Aassistant Motor Vehicle Inspector.
Earlier, the court had directed the vigilance department to consider Dipin’s complaint regarding Sreejith’s participation in the inauguration of a private enterprise abroad while in police uniform and take an appropriate decision within three months.
Pursuant to the directive, the Additional Chief Secretary issued a notice asking the complainant to appear for a hearing on April 20. However, Dipin did not attend the hearing, contending that it was proposed to be a joint hearing in the presence of Sreejith.
The Additional Chief Secretary thereafter submitted a report to the court stating that the complainant had failed to cooperate with the inquiry and had raised baseless allegations without bona fides.
In view of Dipin’s submissions, the Bench directed the ACS on July 28 to reconsider the complaint after granting the complainant a personal hearing in the absence of Sreejith, against whom the allegations had been raised, and pass fresh orders within three weeks.
However, on Tuesday, the court was informed that the directive had not yet been complied with and the state govt sought further time.
Accordingly, the Bench directed the Additional Chief Secretary to appear before it.
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