T’puram: ADGP M R Ajith Kumar, who was removed from the post of excise commissioner on Friday, was appointed as the managing director (MD) of Kerala State Beverages Corporation Ltd (Bevco). Accordingly, the posts of chairperson and MD of Bevco were declared as equivalent in status and responsibility to the cadre post of additional director general of police (ADGP). Harshita Attaluri, who was previously the Bevco MD, was appointed as the inspector general of police, traffic and road safety management. Earlier on Friday, the govt had issued an order giving the charge of excise commissioner— after removing R Ajith Kumar from the post — to additional excise commissioner (administration) until a regular appointment was made. The move came after Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) delivered its final order on March 6 in cases examining how the state was making postings to senior administrative positions and whether IAS cadre rules were being bypassed. The CAT order dealt extensively with cadre posts and the posting of non-IAS officers to positions linked to IAS cadre strength. tnn
