Kerala's suspended DGP Jacob Thomas may have to be reinstated unless the LDF Government appeals in the higher courts against a verdict of the central administrative tribunal's Ernakulam bench that has termed the 20-month old suspension order as void.

The tribunal held that suspension can't be used as punishment because its limited objective is to ensure that an employee can't influence an inquiry while it's on.

But Thomas was suspended twice. He has been out of service since December 19, 2017, and is left with only a year’s service before retirement.

Thomas was first suspended for having allegedly criticized the state government and publication of books without permission. The second time he was suspended for his alleged role in purchasing supposedly costly dredging equipment during 2010-11 as the Director of Ports.

The CAT found - as the Vigilance did earlier - that both charges were untenable and that Thomas' undesirable suspension in defiance of the facts of the case did no credit to the state government.