Madras high court sets aside Tamil Nadu DGP Saran’s appointment

In a setback to the Karunanidhi government, the Madras high court (HC) set aside on Friday the appointment of IPS officer Letika Saran as Tamil Nadu’s director general of police (DGP).

The order by judges FM Ibrahim Kalifulla and MM Sundresh came on a petition filed by fire and rescue services director R Nataraj, who claimed the government overlooked seniority in making the appointment. He said he was the third-most senior civil servant in the state and Saran seventh, but the government still chose her.

“The court has set aside the appointment of Letika Saran as untenable as it has been made against norms. It has asked the government to send a new list of candidates to UPSC by October 26,” Nandakumar, the counsel for Nataraj, said.

Saran has been, however, asked to continue in the post till November 30.

An IPS officer of the 1976 batch, Saran became the first woman DGP of Tamil Nadu in January after KP Jain retired.

Before giving her the responsibility, the state government also considered R Nataraj, N Balachandran and K Vijayakumar for the post. Since Vijayakumar is serving at the Centre as director of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad, she was appointed. The government said Saran’s “service, competency etc” weighed in her favour.

Home secretary K Gnanadesikan told the court that “Saran’s appointment was made as per government orders issued in pursuance of Supreme Court directions.” But the counsels for Natraj and Vijayakumar said that SC guidelines were given a go-by.