Senior Journalist Approaches Kerala High Court Against Conferring IPS Cadre To A Retired Police Superintendent With Alleged Criminal Background

Senior Journalist G. Vipinan has approached the Kerala High Court challenging the steps taken to confer Indian Police Service (IPS), Kerala Cadre, to Abdul Rasheed, retired Superintendent of Police, without considering his alleged criminal background. The petitioner is alleging that it is in violation of the Supreme Court decision in State of M.P and ors. v. Praves Khan.

According to the plea filed through Advocate C. Unnikrishnan, in 2008, the petitioner was brutally attacked and grievously hurt for publishing news against the misappropriation of money by the official of Sales Tax Intelligence. The said official was a close friend of the respondent, and the case was closed against him at the instance of the respondent.

Furthermore, it is alleged that the respondent was in police custody for more than 90 days for an allegation of attempting to commit the murder of a journalist, Mr Unnithan, and several petitions challenging his discharge from the criminal case are still pending.

Though the Central Administrative Tribunal declined to issue any positive order, the plea preferred through Advocate C Unnikrishnan contends that the respondent managed to get an integrity certificate from the state even though his case was rejected several times as unfit and it is on the basis of this certificate that the UPSC and the Section Committee for selection to Indian Police Service are proceeding to confer IPC to the respondent ignoring his antecedents.

Fearing that the respondent might attack again if he is given police power and also in the interest of the security of the nation, the petitioner has approached the High Court.

The Apex Court in State of M.P and ors. v. Praves Khan clearly stated that a person with criminal antecedents would not fit to be recruited to the police service. Even if he is acquitted or discharged, it cannot be presumed that he was completely exonerated. 

Case Title: G. Vipinan v. Union of India & Ors.