Weed out rogue cops, Kerala HC to government

KOCHI: In a directive aimed at cleaning up the police force, the Kerala High Court on Monday directed the state government to file a statement listing the criminal antecedents of all police officers in the state including those from the IPS cadre. The High Court asked the government to clarify if the confidential report of the police officers could be checked at regular intervals to gauge criminal tendencies, if any. The statement is to be filed in a sealed cover in four weeks.“Officers who are involved in cases related to outraging the modesty of women and cases registered under the law relating to prevention of destruction of properties are not be fit to be retained in service even if they were acquitted,” the court said.The Division Bench comprising Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and Justice S S Satheesachandran issued the directive after considering a batch of petitions filed by candidates shortlisted as police constables challenging the refusal of permission to undergo training as they were facing criminal cases.The government submitted that a committee comprising Additional Director General of Police (Administration), Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) and DIG (Administration) had been constituted to look into those officers with criminal background who are continuing in the police or undergoing training. If such officers are identified, they would be Removed from service, government submitted.According to the report of the ADGP (Intelligence), a list of police officers has already been prepared. There are officers who should be retained and others who should be retrenched. Those acquitted in criminal cases should be retained.