Madras High Court: Policing is completely within the domain of the elected government
11 Dec, 2014
On the basis of information gathered through Right to Information (RTI) and various media reports that chain snatching, theft, murder, and other criminal offences had increased in Tamil Nadu, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Madras High Court. The petitioner, K K Ramesh of TN Centre for PIL, contended that there was a breakdown in law and order situation in the State primarily due to insufficient police force. He argued that the police force had not increased in proportion with the increase in population of the State leading to a rise in the incidents of crime.
The petitioner cited the crime figures of Chennai which witnessed 144 murders, 49 murders for gain, 93 burglaries, 23 kidnappings and 73 sexual harassment incidents during the last six months and requested the court to issue directions to the government to increase the number of police stations and police personnel throughout the State in accordance with the population. The High Court Bench dismissed the petition observing that the issue was completely within the domain of an elected government which is entrusted with this responsibility by the electorate of the State.
The rise in the number of crimes committed across the country is putting stress on the police which appear inadequately equipped to handle the situation. Does the country have a blueprint in terms of the number of police personnel and their training to real with the challenges - both existing and emerging?