A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition complaining about verbal abuses poured on vehicle drivers by police on escort duty of VIPs, on the basis of the government submission that proper training were being given to police officials on escort duties.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K. Vinod Chandran was disposing of a petition filed by A. Ranjith Narayanan of Ernakulam seeking a directive to the police force to behave properly with the common man while on escort duties.
He said that his vehicle was diverted by cops in pilot vehicles of a VIP convoy at 7.30 p.m. on September 13 last year when the Emerging Kerala meet was on in the city.
According to the petitioner, even when the police vehicles were violating rules in the name of piloting VIP vehicles, police stopped private vehicles and booked them for speeding.
The State government submitted that regular refresher courses and training were being given to the police personnel who manned pilot and escort vehicles.
A circular issued by the government made it mandatory for police to follow the regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 and other related rules.
The government also submitted that police drivers had undergone training for six months at the Police Academy and Police Training College.
The court observed that there was no need for issuing any special directions in view of the government submission.
