Imploring police officials in the state to maintain a clean record, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday directed the Director General of Police to issue a circular to all police officers in the state, reminding them to not accept gifts, bouquets or dowry. A circular is to be issued by the DGP within six weeks.
According to one report in The Hindu, the court observed that Tamil Nadu Subordinate Police Officers Conduct Rules, 1964, categorically states that behaving unbecoming of a government servant itself is misconduct. Rule 4, dealing with 'Gifts, Rewards and Dowry,' states, "Save as otherwise provided in these rules, no Police Officer shall, except with the previous sanction of the Director General of Police, accept or permit any member of his family, to accept from any person any gift of value exceeding Rs. 5,000/- (Rupees five thousand only)." However, a casual meal, lift or other social hospitality shall not be deemed to be a gift, it notes.
The court reportedly said, “A government servant must have a clean record of service. His behaviour both inside and outside the office and while performing or not performing his duty must be good. A public servant is expected to maintain good conduct in public. It is not as if a police officer, who is off duty, can involve in some criminal case or commit certain misconduct.”
According to one report in the Times of India, Justice SM Subramaniam was hearing a petition which was filed by sub-inspector of police S Thennarasu who moved the HC seeking to quash an order of deferment against his promotion to the post of inspector of police as a criminal case had been registered against him.
"In respect of the Conduct Rules, it is visible in the public domain that a large number of flowers and bouquets are shared by way of gifts in the police department and it is telecast through various television channels also. Thus, the DGP is bound to remind the Conduct Rules to all the police officials, so as to ensure that such costly flowers and bouquets or similar articles of trifling values are not presented to any police officials," the newspaper quoted the judge as saying.