As the State government claimed talks are on with police personnel and that the apprehension of them going on “strike” in the guise of mass leave was “unfounded”, the High Court of Karnataka on Friday declined to entertain a PIL petition, which had sought directions to prevent the police from striking their work as per the call given by Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasangha.
Noticing that the government was holding talks with the representatives of the “recognised association of the police”, a Division Bench said that it is not in favour of interfering in the issue. However, it observed that the court would hope that the government take steps to solve the problems of common police personnel. Earlier, Additional Advocate-General A.S. Ponnanna told the Bench that the mahasangha is “not a recognised association”, and the apprehension about creating a lawless situation in the State with police going on strike is “unfounded”.
“The government is talking to the representatives of the recognised association of the police. The real police personnel are with the government. The government has already accepted 12 of the 35 demands of the police personnel. We are dealing with the situation,” Mr. Ponnanna said. Terming the PIL, filed by advocate N.P. Amrutesh, as “publicity”, the AAG said the mahasangha is only a registered organisation started by a dismissed police constable and had nothing to do with the police personnel.
