HC sets aside Letika Saran’s appointment as TN DGP

Madras High Court today struck down the appointment of senior IPS officer Letika Saran as the Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu, holding that it was not made in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.
Passing orders on a petition by IPS officer R. Nataraj challenging her appointment, the court directed that a new DGP should be in place by December first week.



Till then, Ms. Saran will continue in the post, a Division Bench comprising Justice F. M. Ibrahim Kalifullah and Justice M. M. Sundaresh said in its order.

A 1976 batch officer, Saran became the first woman DGP of the State in January last.

The judges directed the State government to furnish a fresh panel of names of those eligible to hold the post of DGP to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The court had on September 7 reserved orders on the petition by Mr. Nataraj, Director of Fire and Rescue Services, who had claimed that his seniority had been overlooked in the appointment to the post.

The State government had told the court that the selection and appointment of Ms. Saran as the DGP was made in pursuance to the Supreme Court’s directions.