Police reduced at Jaya's Poes Garden residence: Govt tells HC

Police presence at the Poes Garden residence of late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa has been reduced to 15 from 50 personnel, the state government informed the Madras High Court today.

Taking note of the submission by Additional Advocate General K Venkatramani in response to an earlier query by the court, Justice N Kirubakaran directed the government to deploy the 35 police personnel taken off duty from Jayalalithaa's residence for some other work.

On October 30, the Judge sought to know the reason behind the stationing of a "huge" posse of police personnel at the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5 last year.
 

"What is the need for deploying such a huge police force (contingent) at the Poes Garden now. I have seen a large number of personnel there today also," he said.

During the hearing of a petition by T C Sharath for action against smokers in public places, the Judge observed that police personnel were burdened with unnecessary bandobust and did not have time to spend with their families.

The judge made the reference orally after going through a police report which said there was a shortage of personnel to check sale of tobacco products near educational institutions.

When the matter came up today, the AAG submitted that the number of police personnel at the late AIADMK supremo's residence has been reduced.

The judge in his order said special steps should be taken to monitor areas around schools and colleges, failing which chances of youngsters getting addicted to drugs would be more.

He also said the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act should be invoked for booking persons selling drugs or other banned goods to school children.

Besides, the users should also be appropriately booked.

The action taken by the city police should be extended to other parts of the state and an action taken report be filed from every district, the judge said and posted the matter for resumed hearing after three weeks.