As the Legislative Assembly elections are due in the next few months, DGP Loknath Behera will continue as the chief of Kerala Police. Reportedly, Chief Electoral Officer Teekam Ram Meena has revealed that the Behera needn’t be changed from the post of State Police Chief due to the forthcoming Assembly polls. Behera has been at the helm of Kerala Police for around four years.
As per reports, Meena clarified that the Central Election Commission would decide on what needs to be done. However, in Behera’s case, the existing criteria for transferring revenue and police officers who are continuing in the same post for more than three years was not applicable. He added that the CEO is planning to conduct Assembly elections by the end of April or in the beginning of May.
It was believed that Behera might have to hand over office based on three-year criteria for police and revenue officers. However, now, with CEO Meena’s clarification, it is clear that Behera is likely to continue his position as Kerala Police Chief. However, Behera is set to retire in June 2021.
According to existing rules, a police officer who has been continuing on the same post for more than three years, should be replaced before the Assembly elections. However, the Kerala government retained Behera, who has played a crucial part in the State’s administration from the beginning.
Earlier, if Behera was moved out, other officers, who were likely to be picked for the post included Rishiraj Singh, R Sreelekha, Tomin Thachankary, Arun Kumar Sinha, and Sudesh Kumar. However, Sreelekha and Rishiraj Singh are retiring shortly. Sreelekha, who completed 60 years this Christmas, is all set to retire this month and Singh will retire in the coming July. Meanwhile, senior IPS officer Sinha is unlikely to return to Kerala as he also incharge of the Prime Minister’s security. Thus, IPS Thachankary or IPS Kumar are likely to step up to the helm as Behera’s successor.
