THIRUVANANTAHPURAM: A decision has been taken to appoint DGP Jacob Thomas as the managing director of Kerala Steel & Metal Industries Corporation. The order appointing him will be released soon. Additional chief secretary (home department) Viswas Mehta had recommended to reinstate him back into service.

The home department recommended to reinstate him following the verdict of the administrative tribunal that a senior officer like him cannot be kept under suspension for so long. Thomas approached the tribunal again as the government did not respond favourably. A decision was taken later to reinstate him.

Thomas’ demand was to reinstate him in a cadre post following his seniority. State police and vigilance chiefs are the present cadre posts. However, the argument of the government was that he cannot be appointed in main pots following vigilance probes and cases against him.

However, the directive of the tribunal was that if there are no vacancies in the police department, an equivalent post should be given to him. As per that, he has been appointed as the managing director of Steel & Metal Industries in Shornur which is under the industries department.