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New Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Weekly-off for cops must, govt will face contempt if it fails to comply, says Madras HC
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday ordered strict implementation of 2021 G.O granting compulsory weekly off to constables and head constables, warning that contempt proceedings would be initiated against officers who fail to comply. Justice Battu Devanand passed the order on a petition filed by M Senthil Kumar, a head constable at the Austinpatti station in Madurai, who alleged that the government order was not being properly implemented. Observing that the issue concerns not just one individual but thousands of police personnel across the state, the judge said vague claims of compliance made by the state government could not be accepted. The government had contended that weekly or fortnightly offs were being given to police personnel in all districts. Additional advocate general Veera Kathiravan argued that the petition should be treated as a public interest litigation (PIL), as the petitioner has raised the grievances of other police personnel, which is not maintainable in service matters. Therefore, the petition itself was not maintainable, he submitted. However, the judge noted that there was no association in Tamil Nadu to represent the grievances of police personnel. 'In such a situation, it is unreasonable to expect every police personnel to approach the court individually to seek the benefit of weekly off,' he said. The judge pointed out that the government's decision to grant compulsory weekly off was intended to allow constables, head constables, special sub-inspectors and sub-inspectors to safeguard their health and spend time with their families. 'While the decision is laudable, ineffective implementation is depriving police personnel of its benefits,' the judge observed. The government had issued a G.O. on November 3, 2021, sanctioning one day weekly off for police personnel up to the rank of head constable. A similar G.O. was issued the following year for sub-inspectors and special sub-inspectors. But the petitioner alleged that both the orders have not come into force till now.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC directs DGP to implement GO sanctioning weekly off to cops
Madurai: on Monday directed the director general of police (DGP) to ensure the proper and effective implementation of the 2021 govt order (GO) sanctioning a one-day weekly off for head constables and constables. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice Battu Devanand made it clear that any future violation of this directive would necessarily invite the initiation of proceedings against the officers concerned under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, read with Article 215 of the Constitution. The court was hearing a petition filed by M Senthil Kumar, a head constable at Austinpatti police station in Madurai district. He stated that GOs were passed in 2021 and 2022, sanctioning one-day weekly off for police personnel, but they were not implemented. Hence, he moved court. The state submitted that the petitioner is raising the grievances of other police personnel for their benefit and, as such, the present petition should be treated as a petition filed as public interest litigation. However, justice Battu Devanand noted that the petitioner was denied a weekly off on several occasions contrary to the GOs. The petitioner attempted to demonstrate the difficulties faced by all police personnel. Therefore, it cannot be construed that the petitioner filed this petition as public interest litigation. "There is no association for police personnel working in the state of Tamil Nadu to enable them to represent their grievances to the state govt or the concerned authorities. It is also an admitted fact that in neighbouring states, police personnel have their associations. In such a factual situation, the authorities cannot expect that every police personnel has to approach the court by filing separate petitions seeking to extend the benefit of a weekly off provided by the state govt by amending the police standing orders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Under such circumstances, filing this petition to bring the difficulties of the petitioner himself before the court and at the same time his attempt to bring the difficulties of all the police personnel working in the state cannot be faulted," the judge observed. The judge observed that the aim and objective behind the announcement made by the Tamil Nadu chief minister (CM) to grant a weekly off to police personnel is to take care of their health condition and it would be helpful for them to spend some time with their family members to come out from work tension and stress. The decision of the CM is very much laudable. "But the GOs issued based on the announcement of the CM are not being implemented effectively and properly. Due to the inaction of the authorities, the aim and object for amending police standing orders for a weekly off is being defeated and police personnel are not able to enjoy the fruits of the policy decision of the state govt," the judge observed. The petitioner only seeks the effective and proper implementation of the orders issued by the govt to extend the benefit of a weekly off to the police personnel. The request made by the petitioner is reasonable, and he is entitled to relief, the judge observed.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Time of India
Madras HC reserves orders on plea to implement GOs providing weekly off to police personnel
Madurai: Madras high court on Wednesday reserved orders on a plea moved by a policeman seeking the implementation of two GOs, which provide one day of compulsory weekly off to police sub-inspectors, head constables, and constables across the state. Pursuant to the earlier direction, the director general of police (DGP) submitted a report before the court stating that the GOs sanctioning weekly off was being implemented. The state submitted that the petitioner was also granted weekly off whenever he sought the same. During the course of the hearing on Wednesday, justice Battu Devanand called upon a few policemen who were present before the court and inquired if they are granted weekly off as per the GOs. After elaborately hearing the submissions of the state and the petitioner's counsel, the judge reserved orders in the case. The court was hearing a petition filed by M Senthil Kumar , a head constable of Austinpatti police station in Madurai district. The petitioner stated that police personnel have to discharge their duty round the clock on all days of the week. Since the personnel are performing duty without any rest physically and mentally, they are under a lot of stress and are unable to spend time with their families. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo He stated that a GO was passed in 2021, sanctioning one day weekly off to the police personnel up to the rank of head constable in order to take care of their health and to spend time with their family members. Accepting the same, the DGP also issued a communication to all the police personnel. In 2022, another GO was passed sanctioning one day weekly off to police personnel up to the rank of special sub-inspectors of police and sub-inspectors. The petitioner stated that the GOs have not come into effect so far. He stated that he was denied weekly off on many occasions. Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking implementation of the GOs.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- The Hindu
HC reserves orders on plea to implement G.O. sanctioning one-day weekly off to police personnel
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday reserved orders on the petition filed by a police Head Constable who had sought a direction to the Director General of Police (DGP) to implement government orders sanctioning one-day weekly off to police personnel. Justice Battu Devanand reserved orders on the petition filed by M. Senthil Kumar of Madurai district. The petitioner said that police personnel were discharging their duty round the clock without a break. It had affected them physically and mentally. They were unable to attend family functions, he said. He said that a government order was issued in 2021 sanctioning one day weekly off to police personnel up to the rank of Head constable so that they can take care of their health and also spend quality time with their family. It was accepted by the DGP. It was amended in the police standing order and was circulated to all the police stations in Tamil Nadu. However, the G.O. has not come into force. Meanwhile, in 2022, another G.O. sanctioning one-day weekly off to police personnel up to the rank of Special Sub Inspectors of Police and Sub-Inspectors was issued, he said. The government orders do not state how the police department was going to implement them. The department has not found a way to implement the G.O.s. Since they were not being implemented properly, the police personnel were affected and were not able to spend quality time with their family, he said. The petitioner sought a direction to the DGP to properly implement the G.O.s sanctioning one-day weekly off to police personnel.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
HC seeks DGP's reply on GO for weekly off to cops
1 2 3 Madurai: Madras high court on Monday sought a response from the director general of police (DGP) on a plea moved by a policeman seeking the implementation of a 2021 GO, which provides one day compulsory weekly off to police sub-inspectors, head constables, and constables across the state. Justice Battu Devanand sought the response while hearing a petition filed by M Senthil Kumar, who is working as a head constable in Austinpatti police station in Madurai district. The petitioner stated that the police personnel discharge their duty round the clock on all days of the week. Since the personnel perform duty without any rest physically and mentally, they are under a lot of stress and are unable to spend time with their families. He stated that a GO was passed in 2021, sanctioning one day weekly off to the police personnel up to the rank of head constable in order to take care of their health and to spend time with their family members. Accepting the same, the DGP also issued a communication to all the police personnel. In 2022, another GO was passed sanctioning one day weekly off to police personnel up to the rank of special sub-inspectors of police and sub-inspectors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The petitioner stated that the GOs have not come into effect so far. Many police personnel are not able to take the weekly off, which is sanctioned as per the GO. Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking implementation of the GOs. The hearing was adjourned to April 23.
