Kerala HC asks ACS to appear before it over delay in action on complaint against DGP S. Sreejith

The Kerala High Court has directed Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Minhaj Alam to personally appear it and explain the reasons for non-compliance with of its order to consider a complaint against S. Sreejith, Director General of Police.

Dipin Edavana, an Assistant Motor Vehicles Inspector from Malappuram, had complained that Mr. Sreejith had, in his official attire, attended an inaugural function of a private entity abroad.

Justice A. Badharudeen issued the order while considering the State’s plea seeking more time to grant an opportunity for hearing Mr. Edavana and reconsider his complaint within three weeks.

The court had set aside an order of the then Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Biswanath Sinha that Mr. Edavana’s complaint was false and vexatious, allegedly without granting him an opportunity to be heard on the matter.

Mr. Edavana was asked to attend a joint hearing with Mr. Sreejith to consider the complaint after the court had directed an inquiry into the allegations in another petition. Mr. Edavana declined to participate in the hearing, stating that it would be unfair to discuss his allegations in the presence of the official concerned. The court had closed the petition on July 28. When the State asked for more time to comply with the order on Tuesday, the petitioner argued that the three weeks previously allowed had expired and that any extension should have been sought earlier.