Madras high court has directed the director general of police (DGP) to file a report on the number of criminal cases pending against police officials and for how long
The petitioner, who was provisionally selected for appointment to the post of grade-II police constable by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board as per the notification in 2022, was denied appointment after police verification that he was involved in a criminal case in 2020 on the file of the Cumbum North police station. However, the state submitted that the petitioner cannot be appointed as per Rule 14(b) of the Tamil Nadu Special Police Subordinate Service Rules. Justice Pugalendhi referred to Rule 14(b) and observed that there is no such provision in the recruitment process for any other service in this state. Considering Rule 14(b) of the Tamil Nadu Special Police Subordinate Service Rules and the ground reality, the judge gave the direction to the DGP.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the trial court had acquitted the petitioner in June; therefore, his candidature can be considered for appointment. Madurai: Madras high court has directed the director general of police (DGP) to file a report on the number of criminal cases pending against police officials and for how long. The court also sought details of departmental proceedings initiated, if any, against the officials who were involved in criminal cases and their details. Justice B Pugalendhi was hearing a petition filed by M Sowntharapandian. Hence, the petitioner moved court challenging the memo of rejection issued by the Theni district superintendent of police. At the time of verification, the case was pending against the petitioner and it ended in acquittal only on the ground that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. However, in order to ensure purity and to prevent people with criminal character and antecedents from entering into police service, such a stringent rule has been incorporated in the Tamil Nadu Special Police Subordinate Service Rules. “The purity as per this Rule is not maintained in the department, for the serving officers and police constables. The court has witnessed several cases where police officers, who are involved in criminal cases are allowed to continue in service, without even disciplinary action being taken against them for years together. The persons, who are arrested in a trap are also treated in the same manner and they are in fact rewarded with subsistence allowance and with full salary,” the judge observed.