Posting officials without integrity will affect L&O maintenance: HC

CHENNAI: Posting officials who do not have integrity in the law and order wing would have a direct impact on maintaining order in the society, observed the Madras High Court, adding that prevention of crimes in society was far more important than developing efficiency in investigation after a crime is committed.

Justice SM Subramaniam made this observation while dismissing petitions filed by R Muthukumaran, M Parthiban, P Ramesh and C Venkatesh, all police officials with the Armed Reserve force of the State police.

The judge noted that high discipline, honesty and integrity were the need of the hour in the police department, more specifically in the law and order wing.

“There are common allegations of collusion, receiving bribe by the personnel in police stations and in the law and order wing. If the police personnel with lack of integrity are posted in the law and order wing, it will have a direct implication on the maintenance of law and order in the society,” Justice Subramaniam held.

The petitioner officials had sought a direction to the Home Department to convert them from the Armed Reserve wing to law and order wing. They submitted that they are in the rank of sub-inspectors in the AR and crossed 40 years of age.

However, the State government informed the court that the petitioners faced departmental punishments and they lack an unblemished record of service to post them to the law and order wing.

Recording the submissions, the judge ruled that the interference of the High Court in the matter of conversion of police personnel from one wing to another would cause serious repercussions in the matter of maintenance of discipline in the police force.

High discipline, honesty and integrity were the need of the hour in the police department, more specifically in the law and order wing, the judge noted