USAGE OF DEROGATORY LANGUAGE BY POLICE WHILE ADDRESSING A CITIZEN IS AGAINST CONSTITUTIONAL MORALITY

The Single Judge, Justice Devan Ramachandran of the Kerala High Court recently, directed the State Police Chief to instruct all officers to address citizens with respect and remind them of their obligations to treat citizens with respect. ''Usage of derogatory language to address citizens is against the constitutional morality of the Country and is antipodean to the ethos of a democratic system".

The Court pulled up the police force while disposing of a petition moved by Adv Ansu Mathew. The petitioner argued that certain police officers have verbally abused his daughter. "The police officers often use words like Eda and Edi against the citizens".

EC Bineesh, the Government Pleader, submitted a report filed by the ept-District Police Chief, stating that the police were justified in imposing penalties on the petitioner and his daughter as they were seen violating Covid 19 protocols. Moreover, the Petitioner was also involved in various criminal incidents.

The Court found various loopholes in the report submitted by the GP as the report was trying to project the petitioner as a habitual offender. The Court said that police could not indulge in uncivilised behaviour towards the citizens even if they were trying to implement Covid 19 safety protocols. 

"It is difficult for a citizen to prove the abusive language used by a police officer while addressing the citizen because the police themselves investigate such allegations."

 The Court further said that no such behaviour could be tolerated or permitted and directed to file a report with the steps taken to ensure the same.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal