The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Tamil Nadu government over the suspension of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H.M. Jayaram, observing that such action against a senior police officer is “shocking and demoralising”.
A bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan expressed concern after being informed that Jayaram, who was directed to be taken into custody by the Madras High Court in connection with a kidnapping case, was apprehended and released on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The state government’s counsel confirmed both the arrest and his subsequent release.
However, Jayaram’s counsel submitted that despite being released by the police, the government has now suspended him from service. “He is a senior police officer. Where was the requirement for you to put him under suspension? These kinds of orders are shocking and demoralising,” the bench remarked, directing the Tamil Nadu government’s counsel to seek instructions and report back to the Court on Thursday regarding the possibility of revoking the suspension.
Jayaram had approached the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High Court’s June 16 directive asking the police to “secure” him in connection with an ongoing kidnapping investigation. The top court on Tuesday agreed to hear his plea against the arrest order.
Arguing on Jayaram’s behalf, his counsel submitted that the High Court’s arrest direction was issued without detailed reasoning and relied primarily on alleged confessional statements by two accused individuals. The plea, filed through advocate Rajesh Singh Chauhan, contended that the June 16 order lacked substantive justification and was based solely on statements not independently verified.
The matter will be taken up again on Thursday when the Tamil Nadu government is expected to clarify its position on Jayaram’s suspension in light of the Court’s observations.
