MAT directs Kolhapur SP to start appointment process for LCB’s in-charge afresh

Kolhapur: The Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) has directed Kolhapur superintendent of police Yogeshkumar Gupta to initiate a fresh selection process for appointing a police inspector to head the local crime branch (LCB) of the Kolhapur police, laying down specific guidelines for the exercise.The directive came after the appointment of Sushant Chavan as LCB inspector was challenged by Ravindra Kalamkar, the former LCB inspector who was transferred from the post. Kalamkar termed his removal unfair and approached MAT last year.MAT member Debashish Chakrabarty passed the operative order in this regard on April 1, instructing the Kolhapur SP to maintain status quo and prepare a panel of at least five police inspectors. The panel must include both the applicant (Kalamkar) and respondent number 2 (Chavan) and be submitted for approval to the special inspector general of police, Kolhapur Range, within two weeks.The order also stated that after receiving approval, the SP should convene a meeting of the Police Establishment Board (PEB) to conduct a fair selection process and appoint afresh the most eligible and suitable officer to the important post of LCB inspector.The tribunal has directed that the entire exercise be completed within four weeks, by April-end, based on stringent selection criteria. Sources said Gupta had already initiated the process of shortlisting the senior-most inspectors eligible for the post.