Kochi, Aug 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Kerala government on Thursday informed the High Court that no Vigilance investigation is warranted as of now against DGP S. Sreejith, IPS, in connection with allegations that he travelled to Dubai without obtaining permission to go abroad and attended the inauguration of a private enterprise allegedly linked to him.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Vigilance Department, Minhaj Alam, made the submission before Justice A. Badharudeen, who had directed him to appear personally following allegations that the government had not complied with an earlier court order in the matter.
The court was considering a petition challenging a Vigilance Department compliance report that had concluded that the allegations against Sreejith were false and vexatious.
The petitioner had alleged that Sreejith had availed casual leave and travelled to Dubai without securing permission to go abroad.
He was also alleged to have participated in the inauguration of a private enterprise that was connected to him.
The High Court had earlier directed an enquiry into the complaint.
Subsequently, the Additional Chief Secretary issued notice to the petitioner asking him to appear for a hearing.
The petitioner, however, declined, objecting to being required to participate in a joint hearing in the presence of Sreejith, against whom the allegations had been made.
The petitioner had expressed his willingness to appear independently before the authorities.
The High Court later directed the Additional Chief Secretary to provide him an independent personal hearing, in the absence of Sreejith, before proceeding further.
The court had observed that requiring a complainant to participate in a hearing in the presence of the person against whom the allegations were made could not be considered a fair procedure.
When the alleged non-compliance with this direction was brought before the court, the Additional Chief Secretary was asked to appear personally.
Appearing before the court on Thursday, Minhaj Alam submitted that he had complied with the direction and had found that a Vigilance investigation was not warranted at present.
The court subsequently closed the proceedings, while giving the petitioner liberty to pursue appropriate remedies in accordance with law.
Justice Badharudeen, however, issued a strong warning to government officials about compliance with court orders.
Officials must be responsible, the court said, cautioning that repeated lapses could result in personal appearances before the court and even contempt proceedings.
The court also orally directed officials to file proper petitions whenever they required any further orders, instead of asking clerks or peons to approach the High Court, and warned that costs could be imposed if such lapses were noticed in future.
The order leaves the petitioner free to pursue the matter further, even as the government has, for now, ruled out the need for a Vigilance investigation against Sreejith.
Sreejith was recently promoted to the rank of DGP.
Source: IANS
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