The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed former Maharashtra DGP S S Virks petition challenging a government decision to superannuate him in alleged violation of an apex court direction that a state police chief should be allowed a minimum two-year term. A Bench of Justices Aftab Alam and R M Lodha dismissed the petition after both the Centre and Maharashtra government submitted that at present,unless the civil services rules are amended and the apex court appointed-committee examined the issue,it would not be possible to implement the rule. The apex court had in 2006 in the Prakash Singh Vs Union of India case on police reforms directed a DGP be allowed a minimum of two years tenure irrespective of superannuation age as a fixed tenure would insulate DGP from extraneous influence. Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam,appearing for the Union,said the 2006 verdict was not applicable as it was currently being examined by a Supreme Court-appointed panel.
