HC asks DGP to file report on criminal cases pending against police personnel

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to file a report on the number of criminal cases pending against police personnel and how long they were pending.Justice B. Pugalendhi sought to know the details of departmental proceedings initiated, if any, against police personnel who were involved in criminal cases.The court was hearing a petition filed by M. Sowntharapandian, who was provisionally selected for appointment to the post of Grade II Constable by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board. However, the appointment was denied after police verification revealed that he was involved in a criminal case.He challenged the memo of rejection issued by the Superintendent of Police, Theni. The trial court acquitted him of all charges.The State said the petitioner could not be appointed as per Rule 14(b) of the Tamil Nadu Special Police Subordinate Service Rules. At the time of the police verification the criminal case was pending against the petitioner. It ended in acquittal on the ground that prosecution failed to prove the charges against him beyond reasonable doubt.The court said there was no such provision in the recruitment process for any other service in the State. In order to ensure purity in police service and to prevent persons with criminal antecedents from entering police service, such stringent rule had been incorporated into the Tamil Nadu Special Police Subordinate Service Rules.However, the purity as per the Rule was not maintained in the department for serving officers and constables. The court had witnessed several cases where the police personnel involved in criminal cases were allowed to continue in service, without any disciplinary action being taken against them for years together, the court said.Investigations and trials under the Prevention of Corruption Act were delayed for years and by referring to the pendency of criminal case, disciplinary proceedings were not initiated for several years, it added.The court posted the matter for hearing to September 28. Published - September 25, 2026 07:07 pm IST