CHENNAI
Director General of Police T.K Rajendran has written to senior police officers across Tamil Nadu seeking to know why there was an increase in the number of police personnel deserting the force.
The State police had informed the Madras High Court a couple of days ago that 8,158 police personnel had deserted the force in the last 10 years, with the highest being 1,039 in 2017.
Citing queries raised by Justice N. Kirubakaran, who took note of media reports and sought details of the orderly system in the State, the DGP wrote to senior police officers, including all ADGPs, Police Commissioners and Superintendents of Police, calling for details of vehicles at the disposal of senior police officers and their family members.
Besides data on the number of police drivers working at the residence of serving and retired police officers, Mr. Rajendran asked the officers to clarify whether orderlies were employed at the residences of political bosses and functionaries of the parties in power, in the past and present.
Explanation sought
Police officers were told to explain whether police personnel were employed for ‘orderly work’ under different nomenclatures such as ‘other duty’.
They were also asked to give their comments on definite working hours for the police force since, in the absence of the same, police personnel were made to work round-the-clock keeping them away from their families for a long time, leading to frustration and mental disturbance, which was the prime reason for the deviant behaviour, including violence and corruption.
On March 27, the DGP, represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, informed the court that the practice of deploying police constables as orderlies in the residences of police officers which was abolished in 1979 did not exist at present.
Not convinced with the reply, Justice Kirubakaran sought more details and posted the matter to April 23.
