The Kerala High Court on Monday, 3 August sharply criticised the state government for elevating IPS officer S. Sreejith to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) while two separate corruption allegations against him remain under active consideration — questioning the 'undue haste' behind the decision.

What the Court Said

Justice A. Badharudeen orally observed that the government was obligated to obtain a fresh vigilance clearance before proceeding with the promotion, given the pending allegations. 'You have sought time repeatedly to consider sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Then why the hurry to promote an officer against whom allegations are pending? Without a fresh vigilance clearance, the appointment appears hasty,' the court orally observed.

The bench noted that vigilance clearance is a mandatory procedural requirement when promoting an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) to the DGP rank — a step the government appears to have bypassed.

Background of the Allegations

The observations arose during the hearing of a petition alleging corruption in the appointment of bodybuilders Shinu Chovva and Chitharesh Natesan as police inspectors. In earlier proceedings, the High Court had directed the Additional Chief Secretary to consider granting sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act for a formal inquiry into the allegations against Sreejith.

Separately, the court had recently set aside a report that had cleared Sreejith over allegations that he undertook an unauthorised foreign trip to Dubai to attend the inauguration of a private business establishment while serving as an ADGP — a finding that now stands vacated.

Government's Position and Court's Warning

During Monday's hearing, the state government once again sought two weeks' time to decide on the question of sanction. The court refused the request outright, directing the Additional Chief Secretary to take a decision on or before 10 August, with a clear warning that non-compliance could invite adverse remarks.

Notably, the court made clear that the legality of the promotion itself was not under consideration in the present proceedings. It observed, however, that if the promotion violated prescribed rules or procedure, it could be challenged separately before the appropriate forum.

Why Sreejith Was Promoted

The state government had issued the promotion order only days before Monday's hearing. Sreejith, who currently serves as Prisons Chief, will continue heading the Prisons Department despite the rank upgrade. The promotion followed the suspension of ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar in connection with allegations relating to attempts to derail the investigation into the gunmen deployment episode during the Nava Kerala Sadas programme under the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

What Happens Next

The case is scheduled to be taken up again on 10 August, by which date the Additional Chief Secretary must communicate a decision on the sanction question. The court's refusal to grant further time signals diminishing patience with the state's repeated deferral — and any adverse remarks could add judicial pressure on a promotion already under scrutiny.