Kerala High Court Issues Notice to Former DGP Tomin J. Thachankary Over Alleged Misuse of Official Insignia After Retirement
The Kerala High Court has issued a notice to retired Director General of Police (DGP) Tomin J. Thachankary, a 1987-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, after a petition alleged that he continued using the official DGP insignia and number plate on his private vehicle even after retiring from service. The case has sparked a legal debate over whether retired senior government officials can continue displaying symbols and insignia associated with offices they no longer hold.
The matter has now reached the High Court after a private complaint filed before a magistrate was dismissed at the preliminary stage. The petitioner has challenged that decision, arguing that the allegations deserved a detailed judicial examination.
Kerala High Court Seeks Response from Former Police Chief
The notice was issued by Justice G. Girish while hearing a petition filed by Kozhikode resident C.T. Muneer. The petitioner has questioned the order of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Thamarassery, which had dismissed his complaint even before taking cognisance of the matter.
According to the petition, the magistrate erred in concluding that no prima facie case was made out despite allegations that the retired police officer continued to display the official “Silver Star” DGP insignia on his personal vehicle after demitting office.
With the High Court now issuing notice to Tomin J. Thachankary, the matter has entered the next stage of judicial scrutiny. The former DGP will now have an opportunity to present his response before the court proceeds further.
Allegation Centres on Continued Display of Official DGP Insignia
At the heart of the dispute is the allegation that Thachankary continued to use the official insignia reserved for the serving Director General of Police on his privately owned vehicle after retirement.
The petitioner has argued that displaying the DGP “Silver Star” insignia could create the impression that the retired officer was still serving as the state’s police chief. According to the complaint, such a display allegedly enabled him to command official recognition, public respect and certain courtesies that are meant exclusively for serving officers holding constitutional or statutory offices.
The petition maintains that continuing to use official symbols after retirement amounts to misrepresentation and an unauthorised use of government insignia. It further argues that such actions could blur the distinction between serving and retired public officials, creating confusion among both citizens and government authorities.
Challenge to Magistrate Court’s Decision
A key issue before the High Court is whether the magistrate was justified in dismissing the complaint at the pre-cognisance stage.
The petitioner contends that the magistrate overlooked material allegations and failed to appreciate that the complaint disclosed sufficient grounds for further proceedings. According to Muneer, the court should have allowed the matter to move forward instead of rejecting it outright.
The High Court will now examine whether the complaint disclosed enough facts to warrant a criminal inquiry and whether the lower court’s order requires interference.
Journalist Allegedly Spotted the Vehicle
The petition also refers to a specific incident involving the former police chief.
According to the complaint, a journalist reportedly noticed Thachankary arriving at the Vigilance Court in Kottayam while his private vehicle allegedly displayed the official DGP insignia.
The petitioner argues that such a display could lead members of the public and government officials to believe that the retired officer continued to occupy the office of Director General of Police. The complaint claims this may have resulted in undue public respect and official courtesies that ordinarily accompany the office of a serving DGP.
These allegations are among the facts that the High Court is expected to examine during the proceedings.
Petitioner Claims Police Did Not Register Complaint
Before moving the judiciary, Muneer said he had approached law enforcement authorities with his grievance.
According to the petition, complaints were submitted to Mukkam Police Station as well as the Superintendent of Police, Kozhikode, requesting registration of a criminal case against the retired officer.
The petitioner alleges that no action was taken on those representations. Left with no alternative, he filed a private complaint before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court at Thamarassery.
After that complaint was dismissed, he approached the Kerala High Court seeking a review of the magistrate’s order.
Earlier Fine by Motor Vehicles Department
The issue surrounding the alleged use of the official insignia is not entirely new.
The petition points out that the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department had earlier imposed a fine of Rs 250 on Tomin J. Thachankary for allegedly displaying the official DGP insignia on his private vehicle.
The complaint also refers to earlier objections raised by social activist Kulathur Jaisinh, who had reportedly demanded criminal proceedings against the retired officer over the alleged misuse of the official emblem.
These earlier developments have now become part of the broader legal context surrounding the present case.
Hearing Scheduled for July 31
After issuing notice to the former DGP, the Kerala High Court has listed the matter for further hearing on July 31, 2026.
During the next hearing, the court is expected to consider multiple legal questions, including whether retired government officials are legally permitted to continue displaying official insignia associated with their former office and whether such conduct, if established, violates existing legal provisions.
The court may also examine whether the magistrate correctly dismissed the complaint without initiating further proceedings.
Legal experts say the outcome could have wider implications for the use of official symbols, designations and insignia by retired civil servants, police officers and other public functionaries after leaving office.
Who Is Tomin J. Thachankary?
Tomin J. Thachankary is a senior retired IPS officer belonging to the 1987 batch. During a career spanning several decades, he held a wide range of important policing and administrative assignments in Kerala.
He eventually rose to become the Director General of Police, the highest-ranking police officer in the state. Apart from leading the police force, he also served in several senior administrative positions in government departments and public sector organisations, handling diverse responsibilities beyond conventional policing.
Throughout his service, Thachankary remained one of Kerala’s better-known police officers due to his involvement in several high-profile administrative assignments. Even after retirement, he has occasionally remained in the public spotlight because of legal and administrative matters.
Wider Questions on Official Symbols After Retirement
The case has reignited discussion on the use of official insignia by retired public officials.
Government insignia, official number plates and rank symbols are generally associated with serving office-bearers and are intended to signify active authority vested in a public office. Allegations of their continued use after retirement raise broader questions about administrative protocol, public perception and the legal limits governing official emblems.
While the High Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations, its decision to issue notice indicates that the issues raised in the petition warrant judicial consideration.
For now, the allegations remain under judicial examination, and no findings have been recorded against the former DGP. The final outcome will depend on the proceedings before the Kerala High Court in the coming weeks.
