KOCHI: The Kerala high court on Tuesday disposed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the state government’s decision to remove ADGP S Sreejith from supervising the crime branch investigation in actress assault case.
A division bench comprising chief justice S Manikumar and justice Shaji P Chaly considered a PIL (WP-C No. 15523/2022) filed by film director Baiju Kottarakkara as president of Kerala State Board of International Human Rights Council. While declining to interfere, the court said service matters cannot be entertained by the court as a PIL and that transfer under challenge falls within the realm of policy decision of the government.
The petitioner had challenged an order issued by the government on April 22nd appointing Shaik Darvesh Saheb as crime branch ADGP. It was alleged by the petitioner that changing the officer supervising the probe midway would adversely affect the investigation. Police officers should have a fixed tenure for two years as per section 97 of Kerala Police Act, the petitioner had contended.
Responding to the plea, the government had informed the court that ADGP Sreejith was removed from supervising the investigation when he was transferred from the top post at the crime branch. Following Sreejith’s transfer, Sheikh Darwesh Sahib, the new head of crime branch, is now in charge of the investigation team, the court was told.
