Explain steps taken to address police concerns: Madras HC to government

It is imperative both in terms of legal and moral duty on the part of the authorities to ensure that the members of the police force do not become victims of the pitiable and pathetic service conditions. Therefore, we call upon the above authorities to give their response as to the steps taken to address the concerns of the members of the police force, particularly from the subaltern cadre,” said the vacation division bench comprising Justice V Parthiban and Justice P D Audikesavalu.

The bench was passing interim orders on a public interest litigation from CS Rajalakshmi of Thiruvallur, an advocate.

Raising queries as to whether the policemen, who are heavily tasked routinely, were given any remission or respite by the superiors to assuage their mental and physical stress, and whether any counselling was imparted periodically to ascertain the psychological state of the personnel in view of their onerous and unenviable duties, the bench said, “These are some of the issues that need to be considered by the authorities concerned. We, therefore, direct the authorities to submit a comprehensive reply as to the initiative taken so far in this regard before the next date of hearing.”

Referring to the death of Maduravoyal Police Inspector Periyapandiyan while attempting to arrest robber’s in Rajasthan, the suicide of a trainee officer of Central paramilitary force in Avadi, and Arunraj, an Armed police officer who committed suicide when he was on duty at late CM Jayalalithaa’s memorial, the petitioner submitted that the instances of suicide by the police have gone up.

Stating that the main cause for all these incidents were stress, work load, exhaustion owing to work without rest and non-availability of leave, the petitioner said in addition to these, continuous demonstrations and damaging of statues lead the police to work without rest.