Kerala High Court Directs Production of Files in Alleged 'Backdoor' Recruitment of Sportspersons as Police Inspectors

In a significant judicial intervention , the Kerala High Court has directed the State’s Home Department to produce, in a sealed cover , all files pertaining to the controversial appointment of two prominent bodybuilders as armed police inspectors.

Justice A. Badharudeen, presiding over the matter, issued the order following a writ petition filed by Advocate K.M. Shajahan . The petitioner alleges that the appointments of Shinu Chova and Chitharesh Natesan were made through "backdoor" channels, bypassing the standard rigor of the Public Service Commission (PSC) .

The Controversy: Fitness and Favoritism The case highlights allegations of political influence during the previous LDF government’s tenure. The petitioner claims that both appointees failed mandatory physical fitness tests, yet were moved into positions within the police force—a move described as "unusual" and in direct contravention of established recruitment norms .

Advocate Shajahan’s plea further suggests that the state government failed to issue a transparent notification for a special drive to recruit sportspersons, failing to grant equal opportunity to other qualified athletes. Adding to the gravity of the situation, the petition alleges a lack of vigilance action against high-ranking officials purportedly involved in the administrative anomaly .

Judicial Intervention Fearing that critical evidence could be compromised as the legal challenge gains momentum, the petitioner’s counsel requested judicial protection for the recruitment records.

"The petitioner's counsel pointed out the possibility of destruction or manipulation of records and prayed for an interim order to keep the same intact," the records note.

The Court, recognizing the need to verify the integrity of the selection process, allowed the request. The Principal Secretary to the Home Department has been formally tasked with delivering the complete file to the bench for scrutiny.

Key Observations The proceedings underscored the Court's commitment to ensuring administrative transparency, particularly in public appointments. Reflecting on the necessity of this order, the Court noted:

“there shall be a direction to the 9th respondent – Principal Secretary to Home Department, to produce the entire files…in a sealed cover before this Court for verification and further steps.”

Furthermore, the petition highlights that the current administration had previously intervened in the matter, with reports indicating that Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had ordered the suspension of Shinu Chova’s training and mandated an urgent police report regarding the irregular appointments. Despite these internal directives, the petitioner argues that a formal, independent vigilance enquiry remains absent.

Next Steps The case, now slated for a further hearing on July 3, 2026 , marks a pivotal moment in the examination of alleged nepotism within state services. As the Home Department prepares to submit the documents, legal observers are watching closely to see how the Court handles the interplay between government administrative discretion and the mandatory requirements of fair, open, and merit-based recruitment.

With the files moving into judicial custody, the focus now shifts to the verification of the recruitment process and whether the State can justify the departure from standard PSC protocols.