Ahead of T.N. Assembly election, suspension of over 400 police personnel likely to be revoked

With the notification for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections expected in about a month, the suspension of more than 400 police officers and personnel is likely to be revoked in the State.

In a note sent to senior police officers across the State, Director General of Police and Head of Police Force (in charge) G. Venkatraman said that of the 439 police personnel under suspension as of December 31, 2026, in corruption, disciplinary, criminal, and departmental cases, 202 had been under suspension for more than a year.

The note said the government had reiterated the need to strictly adhere to the prescribed time limits for processing disciplinary proceedings and to avoid unwarranted delays in their completion.

Exercise power with restraint

Prolonged suspension, it said, resulted in the government paying an employee without any work being taken from him or her. “Hence, the power to order suspension should be exercised carefully and with restraint. Suspension shall not be resorted to unless the concerned authority, after considering all relevant factors, records a reasoned conclusion that such action is necessary and in public interest,” the note said.

Mr. Venkatraman directed senior police officers to review all suspension cases under their respective jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis and take a decision on revoking the suspension of police personnel.

Priority should be given to cases where personnel have been under suspension for a prolonged period, as many such suspensions had been quashed by courts on technical grounds. Preference could also be given in cases where no grave delinquency or serious misconduct was involved, and where the nature of the charges did not warrant continued suspension or prejudice disciplinary proceedings or public interest beyond a reasonable period.

In cases where criminal charges involved complicated questions of law and fact, and where the disciplinary authority was not in a position to conclude proceedings – particularly cases based on vigilance reports pending before courts without explicit reasons for delay – the competent authority may, in consultation with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, decide to revoke the suspension.

Reinstated police personnel should be posted to non-sensitive posts until their complete exoneration. Senior police officers have been instructed to take immediate steps to revoke the suspensions and submit a compliance report to the DGP’s office by February 13, 2026.