Expressing deep concern over the general tendency among police officers to avoid registration of First Information Reports even if complaints disclose commission of cognisable offence, the Madras High Court Bench here has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to order initiation of departmental action against such officers.
Passing orders on a batch of cases seeking a direction to the police officers in various districts to register FIRs, Justice C.T. Selvam said he was “certain that the DGP would share our concern and do all within his powers to ensure observance of law.” The judge also recommended formation of monitoring committees to initiate action against erring personnel.
The judge pointed out that for the past two and a half months, he had been passing interim orders, on every other petition seeking a direction to register a case, directing the police to strictly adhere by a judgement passed by the Supreme Court in Lalita Kumari’s case in 2013 wherein it was categorically stated that police should register all complaints related to cognisable offences. “Despite the same, we note that generally, the actions of the respondents (police officials) have been more in breach than in observance. The matter is one of grave concern. Despite the decision of the apex court… and irrespective of repeated directions of this court requiring action, the respondent police ever so often are found to conduct themselves with gay abandon,” he said.
