The Madras High Court has firmly rejected the Tamil Nadu police's official claim that the colonial-era 'orderly' system has been completely abolished in the state. A division bench, taking suo motu cognizance of a recent news report, has directed the state's top bureaucrats to file a detailed explanation.
Court Cites News Report, Questions Police Claim
On Friday, a division bench comprising Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice C Kumarappan refused to accept the assurance given by the state. The bench specifically referred to a Times of India article dated December 17, titled 'DGP sets out to end orderly system, directs men to be back on duty'.
The judges pointed out that the news report suggested nearly 5,000 police constables, which is about 4% of the state's 1.3 lakh police force, might still be functioning as orderlies in senior officers' homes. This contradicted the police's submission that not a single personnel was deployed on such duty.
State's Submission and Immediate Court Reaction
The court's strong stance came a day after State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah informed the bench that no policeman was deputed as an orderly at senior officers' residences. He had presented a report from the Director General of Police (DGP), which included statements from both serving and retired officers denying the use of orderlies.
However, the bench was not convinced. It impleaded the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary of Tamil Nadu as parties to the case and directed them to file a comprehensive explanation by January 7. The court also requested State Advocate-General P S Raman to assist in the matter.
Orderly System a 'Criminal Offence', Says Bench
The judges drew a parallel with the prison department, where the orderly system was successfully abolished. They emphasized that the practice must be completely eradicated from the law and order wing of the police force.
In a significant observation, the bench stated that continuing the orderly system would amount to a criminal offence. The court expressed deep concern over the potential misuse where police personnel might be marked 'on duty' while performing personal chores for senior officers.
To ensure accountability, the High Court directed the state government to submit details of the procedures and monitoring mechanisms currently in place to prevent such misuse of official duty hours.
