Guj High Court stays CAT's proceedings in Sreekumar case

Ahmedabad, May 2 (UNI) Gujarat High Court today stayed the proceedings of CAT and admitted a petition filed by the State Government, challenging the tribunal's order to admit senior IPS officer R B Sreekumar's petition against its (Government's) decision to supercede him.

Mr Sreekumar had moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), challenging the States Government's decision to supercede him while promoting his junior as State Director General of Police (DGP) for him not "toeing the Government line during the communal violence in 2002." Chief Justice Y R Meena and Justice D A Mehta stayed the proceedings of CAT and admitted the petition filed by the State Government through its Chief Secretary.

The CAT had yesterday issued notices to the Gujarat Government on a petition filed by Mr Sreekumar, challenging the chargesheet against him on the basis of his deposition before the Godhra inquiry commission, and had stayed all departmental proceedings against him.

The notices are returnable by May 12 and no action can be taken against him till then, a CAT bench had ruled.

Mr Sreekumar had challenged the State Government's decision in the Tribunal, alleging that his promotion was withheld as he did not ''toe the Government line'' while deposing before the Nanavati-Shah Commission, which is probing the Sabarmati Express carnage and post-Godhra riots.

Sreekumar's lawyer N H Sarwai told UNI that the two-judge bench has stayed the proceedings of CAT and have admitted the petition of the Gujarat Government.

In its petition, the State Government has prayed that the HC set aside the order of CAT and stay its proceedings, as Sreekumar is facing criminal charges and an inquiry is going on.

The petition also stated that the decision of the Government about Sreekumar's promotion had been kept in a sealed cover and one cannot challenge such a decision.

Mr Sreekumar was superceded last year when the Government promoted Mr K R Kaushik, who is a batch junior to him, as DGP.

Following this, the senior IPS officer had filed a petition challenging the decision.

UNI MP GK VD VV1709