Kerala HC orders state govt to pay Rs 1.5 L compensation to girl accused of theft by a pink police officer

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the LDF government to cough up Rs 1.5 lakh as compensation for violation of fundamental rights of a minor girl, who along with her father was accused of theft by a pink police officer considering the "trauma" suffered by the girl.

The high court also directed the state government to pay Rs 25,000 to the child as the cost of litigation.

Justice Devan Ramachandran also directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the errant officer in question.

The court said that till the disciplinary proceedings are initiated and concluded, the officer shall be kept away from duties that would require her to interact with the general public and further directed that she should be given necessary training on interpersonal behaviour.

With these directions, the court disposed of a plea filed by the 8-year-old girl, seeking a direction to the government to take stern action against the officer for infringing her fundamental right.

She had also sought Rs 50 lakh as compensation, but the court said the amount awarded by it was sufficient and the petitioner was entitled to seek higher damages under the civil law.

The court also said that the petitioner and her father can proceed with any other litigation they may want to initiate against the officer.

The incident occurred on August 27 when Attingal resident Jayachandran reached Moonumukku with his eight-year-old daughter, who wanted to watch the movement of a massive cargo to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thumba.

Rajitha, the woman Pink police officer, was deployed to assist in traffic regulation and she accused the duo of stealing her mobile phone that was kept in the police vehicle.

In a video that went viral, the officer and her colleague were seen harassing the father and the daughter and even frisking him. The child broke down amid their harassment.

However, when an onlooker dialled the number of the officer, the mobile phone was found in the police vehicle, following which the police team left the scene without even tendering an apology to the father and the daughter.

As part of disciplinary action, the woman officer was transferred and the State police chief directed her to undergo behavioural training. The court had earlier said that the incident occurred as the officer was "drunk on power".

It had been said that the pink police officer's conduct indicated "pure ego and arrogance of the khaki".