Salute of police manifests reverence and admiration to the person receiving it. The term ‘salute’ itself means a gesture of respect or polite recognition. By stretching the right arm and holding it 6 inches away the right eyebrow without covering the right eye is the proper way of saluting. The arm should not touch the cap. The fingers have to be closely stretched and shall be very near to the forehead. 

Whom to be saluted

The policemen should salute all the officers in uniform from ASI to DGP.  DGP who receives salute from the subordinate officers shall also salute back. Also the DGP has to salute the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Governor, Chief Minister and the ministers.

The 18th chapter of the Kerala Police Standard Ordering elaborates on whom to be saluted by the police. This does not suggest to salute MLAs and Chief Secretaries. However, the police accord salute to the MLAs and MPs as they are the public representatives. Many policemen complain that the public representatives believe salute is their right. 

The police have to salute the President, Vice President, Governor, central and state ministers, DGP, ADGP, IG, DIG, judges of Supreme Court and High Courts, District police chiefs, officials in SP rank, Unit Commandant Collector, sessions judges, officers in the field rank at Army (in uniform), magistrates, commissioned officers in the force and officers from the ranks of SI.