Want people-friendly cops, then treat them better: HC to govt

The Allahabad High Court has held that it was the state's "obligation" to ensure that family members of deceased police personnel "do not suffer in penury" and their lawful dues were made available to them without any "harassment".
In an order passed yesterday, Justice Sudhir Agrawal said "one can not expect an honest, dedicated police officer, always ready to discharge his duties in the most effective manner, without ensuring that whatever is due to him is made available without any delay, harassment etc. And the same treatment would continue to his heirs in case of his death for any reason whatsoever".

The court said that while it is expected that the police are "public-friendly", the same has to be reciprocated by giving "better treatment" to the cops.
"If for civilised, honest and innocent persons, we expect a public-friendly police force, supposed to function with utmost humility but hard on criminals, we have to reciprocate them suitably with better treatment", the court said while hearing a bunch of petitions pertaining to compassionate appointments claimed by heirs of deceased police officials.
Fixing August 18 as the next date of hearing in the matter, the court asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file an affidavit stating the number of police personnel who have died "in discharge of duties" in the last 10 years, benefits and allowances "actually available" to their heirs and "within how much time" these were provided.

The court has also sought to know whether the state government maintained parity in providing such benefits and details and reasons for any disparity arising out of "additional benefits" extended to any of the deceased police officers' family members.