Kerala High Court admits State’s appeal challenging court order to set aside police association reorganisation

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has admitted the State government’s appeal aggrieved by a Single Judge’s order quashing the reorganisation of police associations in the State.

The Single Bench had allowed a petition challenging the orders issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to restructure the three police associations in the State. The Government Order split up the members and assets of the Kerala Police Officers Association in a 60:40 ratio between the Kerala Police Association and the Kerala Police Senior Officers Association.

The State contended that the restructuring was initiated because the existing association structure had ceased to reflect the prevailing service structure. It found that the method of recruitment, promotional avenues, transfer policy, service conditions, administrative requirements, welfare concerns, and grievance redressal mechanisms of personnel belonging to the constabulary wing were materially different from those applicable to officers directly recruited to sub inspector ranks and officers in the regular promotional line from there.