CHENNAI: The State government has initiated actions to abolish the orderly system in the police department, including in the prison department, submitted the State before the Madras High Court.

“The government should not be a mere spectator in this issue, and weed out this practice within the police department completely,” observed a division bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and M Jothiraman.

“Government officials are already paid enough with allowances. Hence they should restrain themselves from using uniformed personnel in their residence for the household chores,” added the bench and posted the matter to December 20 for further submission.

Additional public prosecutor R Muniyapparaj, on behalf of the Home department, submitted a status report that pursuant to the court order, the government had issued an order to conduct an elaborate enquiry into the practice of orderly system by prison officials, who have engaged uniformed personnel in their residences for personal works.

“The inquiry will be conducted either with the assistance of CB-CID or with the input from the intelligence department. Disciplinary actions will be initiated against the erring officials after the enquiry,” said the report. “The actions taken against them will be placed before the court for further consideration.”

Sujatha, a petitioner, had moved a petition claiming under-deployment of wardens at Puzhal prison, and inadequacy of facilities, 60 prisoners are being lodged in a cell with one toilet, leading to an unhygienic situation. “Despite the sanction of 203 prison wardens’ posts, and many allotted in three shifts with 60 wardens per shift, only 15 wardens are being deployed presently at Puzhal prison,” she had claimed. “Since the wardens are made to work for long hours, frequent conflict arises between prisoners and wardens out of frustration.”

After hearing the case, the bench observed that “at no circumstances the practice of the orderly system cannot be tolerated” and issued orders to the State to abolish it.