Centre seeks 'services' of Chennai Police Commissioner

By V.Jayanth and S. Shivakumar

CHENNAI, JULY 27. The postings of two senior police officers from Tamil Nadu threaten to erupt into a Centre-State row. The question that has arisen now is whether the Centre can transfer an IPS officer without the concurrence of the State Government?

First, it was the shifting of the former Director- General of Police, Mr. R. Rajagopalan, who was posted as the Director General of the National Security Guards (NSG) - that meant a major promotion to a police chief who was shunted out by the State Government.

But far more serious is the request for deputation of the Chennai Police Commissioner, Mr. K. Muthukaruppan, whose ``services'' have been sought by the Centre for a post in the Cabinet Secretariat in Delhi.

Though it may not have any serious reservations about the posting of Mr. Rajagopalan as the NSG chief the Tamil Nadu Government is expected to take a close look at the rules governing Central services. In this case, it seems to be more a feeling of not being ``consulted'' - or seeking the concurrence before announcing the transfer. Hence, the State Government could take its time to decide whether it wants to ``relieve'' him from the present post of DGP, Police Training College.

But when it comes to the Police Commissioner, it is another ball game altogether. This is seen here as a ``punishment'', handed down by the Centre under pressure from the DMK. From the ``arrest drama'' of the DMK leader, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, and the two Union Ministers - Mr. Murasoli Maran and Mr. T.R. Baalu - the DMK has been focussing its ire on the city police chief and a handful of senior police officials, who are alleged to have ``manhandled'' the DMK functionaries on June 29/30.

It will be interesting to see how the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, reacts to these developments. She has already gone on record that police postings are a ``State subject'' and that there can be no action against any officer till the one-man Commission of Inquiry submits its report.

Under these circumstances, will the Chief Minister take on the Centre and refuse to relieve these two officers - particularly Mr. Muthukaruppan? It is also considered possible that the latter could go to the Administrative Tribunal questioning the order on grounds of `mala fide'.

If Ms. Jayalalithaa opts to challenge the Centre's powers on this issue, it could lead to a major confrontation. She is not likely to take it lying down.

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