In Brief
Dr. T.P. Senkumar, an IPS officer, was appointed State Police Chief of Kerala for a two-year tenure. He was transferred out after just 11 months following two tragic incidents: the Puttingal Temple fireworks explosion and the Jisha murder case. The government cited 'serious public dissatisfaction' under Section 97(2)(e) of the Kerala Police Act, 2011. The Supreme Court allowed his appeal, holding that removal from a tenure post requires objective verification of grounds, not mere subjective satisfaction. The Court found the government's reasons—articulated belatedly through affidavits—lacked cogent material support and appeared politically motivated. The decision reaffirms that police independence and security of tenure are essential to rule of law.
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