Monday, August 8 2005 16:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: Stating that granting of promotion to IPS officers was the prerogative of the States, the Center today (Aug 8, 2005) said it had no role to play in denying promotion to the senior IPS officer R B Sreekumar who had challenged the denial of promotion by Gujarat Government before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

In its reply before the CAT in connection with Sreekumar's petition, the Center said it was 'unfortunate' that none of its (central governments) members were on the state committee that awards promotions to IPS officers.

Filing its reply four months after CAT had issued notices to all the parties, including Chief Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government, the Center today said: "It was unfortunate that none of its officials were on the committee that issues promotions and transfers."

The Center, however, said that the clarifications sought by Sreekumar, an additional Director General of Police, regarding IPS promotion/transfers were correct.

In its reply, the Center added that the norms made for such promotions/transfers were uniform throughout the country but it was the state governments prerogative to choose the officers concerned.

Sreekumar's advocate Anand Yagnik said that the Center could have taken a more concrete stand in the matter as it frames the rules for IPS promotions and should also ensure that the respective state government's comply with them.

Further hearing on this petition will be on August 22.

Sreekumar, who was the former state Intelligence Bureau Chief during the initial phase of the post-Godhra violence, has accused Modi of stalling his promotion earlier this year as he had not 'toed' Government's interests during his deposition before the Nanavati-Shah panel probing the Godhra train carnage and the riots that followed.

Sreekumar has also accused Modi of instructing him to 'target minorities and spare rioters of majority community.'