Notice to centre on plea against Delhi police chief

The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the central government on a plea challenging the appointment of Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar on grounds that he faced charges of misusing power and rights violations.

A division bench of Chief Justice D. Murugesan and Jayant Nath sought a response from the home ministry by May 29 on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by M.S. Devasayam, a retired IAS officer from Chennai, seeking to quash the appointment of Neeraj Kumar.

The court's order came after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Rajeeve Mehra said the government had received the petitioner's representation and a decision would be taken within 15 days.

The court had Feb 27 asked Devasayam to make his representation before the home ministry within a week. The home ministry would then decide on the representation within eight weeks.

The petitioner again moved the court Wednesday after the eight-week deadline, saying the ministry had not yet decided on his representation.

Seeking two weeks time, the ASG said: "I apologise for the delay. We received a representation from the petitioner and a decision would be taken within 15 days."

Neeraj Kumar, a 1976-batch Indian Police Service officer, was appointed police commissioner June 28 last year. He will retire at the end of July.

"The police officer is facing serious allegations of misuse and abuse of powers, fabrication of documents and violation of human rights," the PIL said.

Advocate Mehmood Pracha, appearing for the petitioner, had earlier told the court that a selection committee had rejected Neeraj Kumar's name for the post of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director due to the allegations.

"He was found to be unfit for being included in the panel of the officers for the appointment of director of the CBI by the selection committee headed by the chief vigilance commissioner on account of several charges which he is facing," Pracha had said.