HC notice to TN DGP on PIL to address concerns of police force

The Madras High Court has sought the response of the Tamil Nadu police chief and other senior government officials to a PIL seeking to address the concerns of the members of the state's police force.

A summer vacation division bench of Justices V Parthiban and PD Audikesavalu had yesterday directed the chief secretary, home secretary, and the DGP of the state, to file their response on the steps taken to address the concerns of the police force particularly from the subaltern cadre.

The bench then posted the matter for further hearing to June 8.

"It is imperative both in terms of legal and moral duty on the part of the above authorities to ensure that the members of the police force do not become victims of the pitiable and pathetic service conditions.

"Therefore we call upon the above authorities to give their response as to the steps taken to address the concerns of the members of the Police force, particularly from the Subaltern cadre," the bench said while passing the interim orders on the PIL by CS Rajalakshmi.

The petitioner sought a court direction to the authorities concerned to consider her representation on the arduous nature of duties discharged by the police which drove them at time to the precipice of despair and self extinction.

When the matter came up, the court asked the officials whether any remission or respite was given to police personnel by the superiors in order to assuage their mental and physical stress.

It also sought to know whether any counselling was imparted periodically to ascertain the psychological state of the personnel in view of their onerous and unenviable duties.

There are some issues that need to considered by the authorities concerned, the bench said and directed the authorities to submit a comprehensive reply as to the initiative taken so far in this regard before the next date of hearing.

Referring to the death of an Armed Reserve Police constable, who committed suicide while on duty at the late CM Jayalalithaa's memorial here in March, the petitioner noted that such incidents are on the rise.

The main cause for these incidents was stress, work load, exhaustion due to work without rest, and non- availability of leave, she claimed.

Stressing the need for compulsory rest hours for the police personnel who discharge their duties under blistering sun and heavy rain with dedication, she submitted she had made a representation to the authorities on March 12, but to no avail.