CHENNAI: The police department has made a submission before the Madras High Court stating that no police personnel have been deployed as orderlies at the residences of senior police officers in Tamil Nadu.
In 2022, the Madras High Court had directed that the practice of engaging orderlies in Tamil Nadu should be completely eradicated.
A Bench comprising Justices SM Subramaniam and C Kumarappan had raised a question as to whether this order had been fully implemented.
In this context, State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah, who appeared before the Bench, submitted the Director General of Police's (DGP) report.
He informed the court that both serving and retired senior police officers have stated that no orderlies are currently working at their residences.
At this point, the judges asked whether not even a single orderly was on duty.
In response, the State Public Prosecutor stated that not even one orderly is in service at present, and that immediate action would be taken if any such complaint is received.
Thereafter, the judges observed that just as the orderly system has been abolished in the prison department, it should also be abolished in the law and order wing of the police, and further stated that following the orderly system itself amounts to an offence.
The judges also directed that details of the procedures in place to monitor police personnel who claim to be "on duty" but engage in personal work should be submitted by Friday, and adjourned the case.