Kozhikode
Ten show-cause notices in two years. That is perhaps unusual for any government employee. U. Umesh, a senior civil police officer attached to the Feroke police station in Kozhikode district, is now facing the threat of compulsory retirement as well.
Mr. Umesh said the first notice was served on him after he wrote a Facebook post on the Malayalam movie Kadu Pookkunna Neram against the backdrop of the case registered against Thaha Fazal and Allan Shuhaib under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at the Pantheerankavu police station. Mr. Umesh got one more notice after he wrote on Facebook implying that police personnel should go through the court verdict granting bail to Mr. Fazal and Mr. Shuhaib.
Another notice pertained to an incident in which he helped his woman friend, whom he married later, get a flat on rent in Kozhikode city. The marriage happened in the course of the investigation into this notice. He was suspended from service for six months.
Two more notices were issued against Mr. Umesh for writing on Facebook and talking to the media. Two others were for writing an article on a petty police case and talking to news channels. Another one was for highlighting the sub-standard quality of helmets being provided to police personnel. However, this post led to an inquiry directed by the State Police Chief. The ninth notice was related to another Facebook post that criticised the reported move to hand over some work related to the salary of police personnel to a private bank.
The last notice was for participating in a seminar organised by a women’s group at the Calicut Press Club to mark International Women’s Day. It was pointed out that he had attended the session without prior permission from the department. The former District Police Chief (Kozhikode City) served him one more notice, dated March 31, saying it had been “temporarily decided” to send him on compulsory retirement. Mr. Umesh has been asked to submit reasons, if any, in 15 days against “making this decision permanent”.
Mr. Umesh told The Hindu that he got the notice only on Sunday. It followed one-and-half-years of departmental inquiry into the flat case. A reply would be given in consultation with legal experts, he said.
