Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court has issued an order stating that no further situation shall arise where the authorities concerned are forced to issue circulars urging the police force to uphold decency while dealing with the public.

The cops were asked by the court to strictly adhere to the code of conduct. An order in this regard was issued by Justice Devan Ramachandran. Hence, the court shall overlook ‘the conduct of the police’.  

A copy of the recent circular issued by the Kerala State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb urging the police to uphold decency while engaging with the public was produced in court. It should be noted that the circular was issued as per the instructions of the High Court.   

In a recent circular, the police chief mentioned about the circulars since 1965, which direct force to have decent behaviour towards people. Saheb's circular emphasised language and temperament. It also warned of action against personnel who fail to comply with the prescribed conduct. 

The circular particularly reminds the force of section 33 of the Kerala Police Act, which specifies about people’s right to record the conduct of police officials. According to clause two of the section, “no Police Officer shall prevent any member of the public from lawfully making any audio or video or electronic record of any Police action or activity carried out in a public or private place.”

The circular came out at a time when state police had been facing flak over alleged high-handedness in multiple instances. Even the Kerala High Court intervened multiple times and slammed the conduct of certain cops. 

Meanwhile, ASI VR Raneesh from the Alathur police station who had misbehaved with advocate PS Aqib Suhail when the latter had arrived at the police station with the court order for releasing a seized vehicle tendered an unconditional apology for his behaviour.

Rajneesh had appeared in the court along with station house master TN Unnikrishnan. The DGP informed the court that Raneesh had been suspended after the incident.

The Kerala High Court had earlier instructed the state police chief to come up with an explanation for the incident. 

The video of the untoward incident had gone viral on social media in which the accused cop could be seen misbehaving with advocate Suhail who had arrived at the station.

After confessing his mistake, the ASI was asked by the court whether he was unaware of the ‘circular’ issued by the DGP stipulating ‘expected behaviour’ from police personnel while on duty. In connection with the query, the DGP said that the cop acted in a despicable manner succumbing to pressure and out of provocation.     

However, the court expressed its ‘dissatisfaction’ over the explanation and reminded that ‘pressure’ was part of all professions, and highlighted that it should not be made an excuse for poor behaviour.