"Police working round the clock, without a break": Madras High Court raises concern over stress, suicides, desertions in the Police force

Taking note of suicides and desertions within the police force, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday raised concern over the welfare of police officers in the State, observing that policemen are made to work round the clock without a break. .This Court can take note of fact that police is working round the clock without a breakMadras High Court."For action police is blamed, for inaction police is blamed. Police are like orphans", the Court orally observed today. .Justice N Kirubakaran added that the Court is aware of serious allegations against policemen, including in the recent Sathankulam custodial deaths case. .However, concerns of the well-being of policemen remain, the Court emphasised, while speaking on the vital role of police officers. Justice Kirubakaran orally remarked:"... without police is it possible to live in society for one hour? If traffic police go for an hour, what will happen? Whether we have the discipline to go? Because the police is there, we are able to go. Otherwise, we are not law abiding citizens at all... Unless there is police force, there will not be law and order.".While so, policemen are not allowed weekly holidays, proper sleep or rest or even to go for their children's birthdays or social functions, the Judge remarked. .Sitting on the Bench with Justice B Pugalendhi, he further pointed out that there were many persons deserting the police force now, despite how difficult it is to get the job in the first place. In this regard, the Judge also referred to the myriad cases coming to court where applicants sought the court's intervention to join the police force. .Over 500 desertions have taken place in the police force in the recent times, the Bench observed, as have suicides within the force. All this goes to show that the uniformed persons are under stress, physically and physiologically, the Court opined..Justice Kirubakaran recalled that he had earlier directed the constitution of a commission to look into the grievances of police officers, given the psychological problems faced by the police. .As per his 2013 ruling, the commission was to be headed by a retired High Court Judge and include a psychiatrist, a general physician, a sociologist, an IAS officer, an IPS officer and an Advocate engaged in service law. The Commission was tasked with examining the problems faced by the police and recommend measures to resolve the same. It is not known whether this Commission has been formed, the Bench noted today. .While Special Government Pleader M Muthugeethayan submitted that an SOP to address the wellness of police officers was issued amid the pandemic, Justice Kirubakaran responded that the issue has still not been addressed comprehensively. .The Court added that the pay scale for policemen also remains low. Unless morale is kept up within the police force, it would be very difficult for the police to maintain law and order or prevent crimes, the Court said. .Pay scale of policemen and primary school teacher was same at one point of time. Now the teachers salary got multiplied many times but policeman's salary remains low.Madras High Court.In this backdrop, the Court has now asked the State to respond on various queries touching upon the welfare of police officers, including the following:What are the problems being faced by policemen?What are the mechanisms available for policemen to express grievances to higher authorities since police associations are prohibited?Are policemen being given time bound promotions?How many desertions have taken place in the police force in the last 10 years?How many police officers have died by suicide in the last 10 years?Has the orderly system been dispensed with?Whether one day holiday/ statutory holiday is being given to police officers?Whether police officers are given leave for attending social functions and birthdays of children?How many posts are vacant in the police force?What is the police to people ratio in Tamil Nadu?When did the revision of the strength of police officers take place last?Whether the present ratio of police to people is as required?What are the steps taken to fill vacant posts in the police force then and there?Whether police force is having an insurance benefits as they are facing risks in the performance of their duty?Whether any grievance redressal commission has been constituted? If not, when will it be constituted?How many police persons are facing criminal cases?.The Court was dealing with a PIL moved to fill vaccancies in the police force and for higher pay for police officers. The matter has been posted to be taken up later this month. .Read the order: