India, June 18 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu government for suspending 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 carried out following a directive of the Madras high court could cause "irreparable injury" to the senior officer who 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 irreparable injury. This type of order is shocking...