The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) today upheld the suspension of senior IPS officer, Tomin J Thachankary, ruling that the officer's act of travelling abroad without informing the government was "illegal".

Dismissing a petition by Thachankery challenging his suspension by the government, a full bench, comprising K G Joshi, Jose Parakkal and Noorjehan, observed that no sufficient reasons were provided by the former Kannur range IGP so as to interfere with the suspension order.

The officer's action of travelling abroad without government permission was illegal, it held.

The tribunal observed that the state government had the powers to suspend an IPS officer as per the regulations. It also dismissed his contention that the suspension order was issued with "political motives".

The matter was referred to a full bench due to difference of opinion between two members of the Tribunal.

Thachankary was suspended in April following charges that the officer did not take permission for his trip to the Middle-East early this year.

Last month, the state government had informed the CAT that they are unable to take Thachankary back into service as the probe by the National Investigation Agency against him might be affected.

In June, union Home Secretary G K Pillai had said an inquiry must be conducted by the NIA on allegations that Thachankary met certain people having suspected terror links during his visit to Qatar a couple of months ago.