Improve working conditions of police personnel, HC tells govt

The HP High Court has directed the state government to consider that the police personnel do not work for more than eight hours at a stretch.

The court advised the state government to undertake housing scheme for police personnel for improving living conditions. It further ordered to make suitable amendments in the rules by providing at least three promotions to police personnel throughout his career to remove stagnation and for improving efficiency.

A division bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja further directed the state to consider that the traffic police is given sufficient breaks while discharging their duties in summers by rotating them and they should be provided masks to protect them from injurious gases and fumes while discharging traffic duties.

Apart from this, the court also gave some suggestions to the state for the welfare of the police personnel, including revision of Sanctioned Strength (2006 Posts Revision).

While giving this suggestion, the court observed that “the last revision of sanctioned police strength was conducted in 2006, increasing the personnel count to 503 with an addition of 154 posts. However, due to population growth, urbanisation and evolving crime patterns such as cybercrime and organised crime, the current workforce is insufficient. With growing demands of the public, increasing tourism, growing menace of drugs and substance abuse, etc there is a need for reassessment of the sanctioned strength.”

The court passed this order dealing with a criminal case. It also suggested the creation of Highway Patrols and Highway Beats.

While passing these directions the court observed that “the entire judicial system of justice has heavily relied upon forensic science, which forms an integral part of the justice delivery system. However, it is unfortunate that most of our forensic laboratories lack basic infrastructure, including both man and machinery. Despite the extreme use of forensic science, the backlog resulting in delay in submitting the test report due to the lack of aforesaid infrastructure poses a significant challenge to the administration of justice.”

It further added that many police quarters and office buildings require urgent maintenance. Dedicated budgets must be allocated for renovations to ensure dignified living conditions for personnel, enhancing their wellbeing and efficiency. The court listed the matter for compliance on June 3.