Summary:
Had Thomas been on leave, the committee would not have considered his name, as it is against norms. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After extending his leave twice, DGP Jacob Thomas has written to the government seeking clarity on his new post once he joins back on Monday.It is reliably learnt that he has written to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and chief secretary Nalini Netto hinting that he should be considered for a cadre post, in which he had served earlier, as he is the second-most senior officer in the police hierarchy.He said in the letter that he was serving in the cadre post of DGP, as vigilance director, while going on leave. The chief minister, who was supposed to launch the book, gave the function a miss.It is learnt that the government is considering the posts of managing director of Malabar Cements Limited or the post of director of Institute for Management in Government for Thomas.At the same time, a shuffle of top- level police officers is also on the cards at the end of this month when Senkumar retires.A committee to select the next state police chief will meet next week. He was asked to go on leave by the government when the court made adverse remarks against the vigilance.Thomas had proceeded on leave on April 1 and had subsequently extended his leave twice - initially for one month and then for another 17 days.He was asked to extend his leave on May 2, when the government could not find a suitable post for him as T P Senkumar was reinstated as state police chief, and Loknath Behera , who was replaced by Senkumar, was appointed as vigilance director.While on leave too he courted controversy by publishing his autobiography, violating the all India service conduct rules, 1968, and Police Forces (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1966..