Despite Court order, police won't change colonial attitude: Kerala High Court laments

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday once again pulled up the police force for its apparent lack of respect for citizens and for the Court's earlier directions to stop the use of derogatory terms while addressing citizens. .Justice Devan Ramachandran took strong exception to the attitude of the police while he was hearing two matters pertaining to the harassment suffered by ordinary citizens at the hands of police officers..The judge lamented that despite several strong directions from the Court on the issue, the police appeared to be functioning as if it were still stuck in colonial times.."No matter how many times we say, our police force won't change. They will continue with the attitude and system we had in colonial times, a hundred years ago," the judge said..One of the cases considered by the Court today pertained to the police using terms such as "eda", which had already been declared as unacceptable by the Court.."Police still don’t know how to use polite and civilised language, do they? These are all responsible citizens. Is this country only for police officers to live in? When this kind of language is used against a doctor, shouldn't there be an inquiry? Especially when the DGP has now issued a circular in terms of this Court’s directions? I’ve declared that you cannot use these words," Justice Ramachandran remarked today..The Judge recalled that just earlier this month, he had issued an order in Anil JS v. State of Kerala & Ors. declaring, in no uncertain terms, that the use of derogatory terms by the police is unacceptable in civilised society. The Court had also directed the State Police Chief to file a report with the steps taken to ensure the same. ."The afore words, if used to address citizens by police officers, is anathema to a civilised and cultured force and are the relic of the colonial subjugatory tactics. Certainly, they have no place in a free country marching in pace with needs and requirements of the 21st century," the Court had noted in its previous order..One of the matters that came up before the Court today was a case where an 89-year-old petitioner had been summoned several times to the police station for the investigation of a complaint and had persistently been harassed by police officers. .It was also submitted that the petitioner was undergoing treatment for a mental illnesses and belonged to a poor family..The Government Pleader, appearing on behalf of the Police authorities, conceded that despite these factors, that the petitioner had been made to physically appear at the police station at least two times. .This drew the ire of the Court, which directed the Station House Officer to ensure that the rights of the petitioner and his daughters are protected from all threats, harassment and intimidation from any source, including the respondent police authorities..Another matter which the Court considered today was a case where the Court had issued orders to the police to address citizens respectfully..In this case, a doctor traveling in a car was stopped by a police officer who allegedly addressed him as "eda" and continued abusing him verbally. .The Court went through the report filed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, which it deemed as inappropriate and inadequate.."What kind of a report is this filed by the assistant commissioner of police? Does he not know that he is addressing the high court?", the Court asked..The Judge went on to express that he was not satisfied with the report. ."I am not satisfied with the contents of the report particularly when the allegations of the petitioner that the police officer used abusive words have not been specifically dealt with. Pertinently, the Assistant Commissioner of Police finds that there are no “serious lapses” on the part of the fifth respondent but it does not explain how he has concluded so", the order stated. .The Court has now directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police to conduct a proper enquiry and file an action taken report, particularly with respect to the abusive language used by the police officers concerned. .Both matters will be considered by the Court again in the first two weeks of October.