New Delhi, June 19 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu government over the suspension of additional director general of police (ADGP) HM Jayaram over his alleged involvement in a minor's kidnapping case, calling the action "shocking" and urging the state to withdraw it.

A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan expressed concern that the suspension, which was carried out following a directive of the Madras High Court, could cause "irreparable injury" to the senior IPS officer who had already joined the investigation in the case.

"Why have you suspended him? He is a senior police officer. You cannot do this. Such orders are demoralising. He has also joined the investigation. He will suffer irreparabl...