Police are expected to be sensitive to the rights of individuals, HC says

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has said that the police are expected not only to protect the life and property of citizens, but also to be sensitive to the rights of individuals and treat them with respect and dignity while performing their duties.

Justic PB Suresh Kumar made the observation while quashing the impounding of the passport of Rohith John of Thiruvananthapuram by the Regional Passport Officer.

The action was taken on the basis of a letter by the Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence), Special Branch, saying that the address given by Mr. John in the passport was fake.

The ADGP's letter was based on a report allegedly filed by the district police chief of Kottayam. Though an enquiry conducted by another officer found that the findings filed by the district police chief is incorrect, the ADGP had issued the letter to the passport authorities stating that the petitioner's address is fake.

The petitioner had produced Residency Certificate issued to him by the tahasildar and the certificate issued by sub inspector of police of Medical College police station showing his address as the one given in the passport.

In the judgement, the court said, "the damage caused to the petitioner in this connection is irreparable. Even before this court, the officers are trying to justify their conduct on feeble grounds, obviously to protect the wrongdoers. No one has shown the attitude to say that wrong has been done to the petitioner and the same will be remedied. They are not regretful for the inconvenience and damage caused to a citizen. The state of affairs, no doubt, is something which the citizenry in the state have to bow our head in shame. Needless to say, matters of this nature are to be taken very seriously by the persons responsible to prevent such instances in future."