There is controversy over IPS transfers in Kerala. IG officers have complained of violation of cadre rules. The DGP is also unhappy with poor performing officers getting postings and many not being given new responsibilities. 2 DIGs have refused to take new posting.
Thiruvananthapuram: The controversy that started over the transfers of IPS officers in Kerala Police is not showing any signs of stopping. Some IG rank officers have approached the DGP complaining about postings being done by disregarding the cadre rules. It is being said that the DGP himself is unhappy with some officers with poor performance being posted in the districts. Not only this, the three SPs who were removed from the districts have not been given any new responsibility till now. At the same time, the transferred DIG. Karthik and T. Narayanan have expressed their inability to take new posting citing personal reasons.
IAS officers have been transferred twice since the UDF government came to power. But due to long talks between the Chief Minister and the Home Minister, the list of IPS officers was stuck. Questions are being raised on the first order for reshuffle in police issued late on Wednesday night after the meetings held in Delhi. It is being said that the changes made at higher positions are fine, but the government has made a mistake at the lower level.
Some IG officers complain that the posts of Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram commissioners are of IG rank. But in Kochi, the government retained IG rank officer Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar, while in Thiruvananthapuram, the DIG rank officer was made the commissioner. No IG was deployed in the North Zone. The IG officers also met the DGP and complained that Sparjan Kumar, who was the South Zone IG for a long time, was not removed, due to which the newly promoted IG rank officers were not given a chance. Not only this, the officers whose names were not in the DGP’s recommendations also appeared in the list as district police chiefs. It is being told that in order to ‘please’ some people, officers with poor track records had to be given postings in the districts, due to which junior IPS officers had to sit out. The SPs of Thiruvananthapuram Rural, Kozhikode Rural and Wayanad lost their posts within four months of posting. At the same time, no new posting has been given to the officers removed from Palakkad, Kottayam, Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram. The DGP has expressed his displeasure over this entire matter to the Home Minister.
Meanwhile, the DIG officers who have been transferred are also reluctant to go to the new places. T. Narayanan was sent from Thrissur to Kannur range and K. was sent to Thrissur range from the post of Thiruvananthapuram Commissioner. Citing personal problems, Karthik has demanded the government to cancel his transfer. The government is considering this demand. It is possible that Karthik may be given some other responsibility in Thiruvananthapuram itself. But the government has no answer as to who will be sent to the Kannur range, as there is a shortage of DIG rank officers. There is also discussion in the police department that the Chief Minister’s Office interfered in the list which was finalized by the Home Minister after discussion with the Police Advisor. However, the Home Minister has not given any reaction on this entire controversy.