SC guidelines on arrest followed: T.N.

By M.R. Venkatesh

CHENNAI, JULY 13. The Tamil Nadu Government has maintained that there was ``no deviation'' from prescribed guidelines in the arrest of the DMK president and former Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, and the Union Ministers, Mr. Murasoli Maran and Mr. T.R. Baalu, here in the wee hours of June 30.

In its reply to the notice issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on issues related to the arrests, the crux of the State Government's submission was that the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the D.K. Basu case had been ``followed''. Guidelines laid down by the NHRC vis-a-vis the mode of arrest ``have also been followed'' in this instance, official sources said here today. They said that a reply had been sent to the NHRC three days ago, notwithstanding the 15-days granted by the body.

Claiming that the State alone was ``competent'' to take action against the police officials (involved in the arrests and who have been charged with human rights violations), the sources said that the State Government would have to await the report of the Justice Raman Commission, appointed to probe the incidents related to the arrest of Mr. Karunanidhi and the others, before taking any action. ``We cannot straightway take action against the police officials; only if the probe finds any act of omission or commission can appropriate action be initiated,'' they said.

The Government Order instituting the inquiry was passed on July 7. The one-man panel has been given three months to submit its report, sources pointed out. To a query, the sources said that no request had come from the Centre seeking the transfer of the police officials concerned. As per the IPS cadre rules, officers with the ``concurrence or consent'' of the State Government ``may be deputed to the Centre or another State Government''. According to sources in New Delhi, the report would be placed before the full Commission on July 18 for its consideration and necessary follow-up action.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Cong. disapproves of Musharraf remarks
Next     : PIL on Musharraf visit dismissed