Book criminal cases against cops receiving mamool: HC

Justice S M Subramaniam offered the above direction while sounding a caution that discipline in the uniformed services is declining and that an urgent review of the situation is imminent and highly warranted. “The concern of this Court shall be considered as a “Red alert” to the uniformed forces,” he said while dismissing a plea moved by an Inspector seeking to quash the punishment of censure accorded to him for collection of mamool at a highway near Visuvasapuram in Kanniyakumari.

“Though the demand and acceptance of bribe is an offence under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), the officials against whom such misconduct is established no such criminal cases are registered and such a situation is certainly intolerable,” Justice Subramaniam said while directing registration of cases against such police personnel receiving bribes under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 as well as under the Indian Penal Code.

Further, one of the directions sought initiation of appropriate disciplinary actions against competent authorities who fail to register criminal cases against allegations of mamool collection. Another one sought the Home Secretary and DGP to issue guidelines for improving the efficiency in controlling mamool collections in police stations as well as in public locations and acceptance of freebie from restaurants, marketplaces, vegetable shops, fish market, mutton stall, chicken Stall etc.”

However, regards the plea moved by the inspector, Justice Subramaniam held that there were no procedural violations in the conduct of the enquiry by the enquiry Officer and the disciplinary authority. But the punishment of censure imposed finally is not in commensuration with the gravity of the proved charges. Based on this, Justice Subramaniam in his order also held that if the higher police officials are insensitive towards such demand and acceptance of bribe by way of mamool collection, public confidence in the police department would not only be shaken but the same will lead to other complications.

“The minor punishment imposed in the present case itself is evident that the appellate authority had shown absolute insensitivity towards the grave offence of collecting mamool,” the judge added while posting the case to July 24 for reportingcompliance.