The Madras high court on Friday set aside the appointment of senior IPS woman officer Letika Saran as DGP of Tamil Nadu state, head of the police force.
A division bench comprising Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifullah and Justice M.M. Sundresh allowed the petition filed by DGP R. Nataraj, challenging the appointment of Letika Saran as DGP on the ground that she was appointed overlooking his seniority.
The bench said, “We have no hesitation in setting aside the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal dated March 8, 2010, upholding the appointment of Letika Saran as DGP and also the order of the state government dated January 8, 2010, appointing her as DGP.” Observing that there was a total in action on the part of the state government to carry out the directions of the top court in its letter and spirit, the bench said the state has no other option except to follow the Supreme Court directions in making the appointment.
The bench directed the state government to forward the names of all the eligible officers in the rank of DGP in the cadre of HAG+ scale (apex scale) of Rs 75,000-(and increment @ 3 per cent)-Rs 80,000 as on date with all their service records to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on or before October 26, 2010. If the UPSC needed any clarification as regards the name forwarded by the state, the same should be clarified on or before November 12.