CHENNAI: Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking direction to the government to increase the number of police stations in the State.
In his petition, K K Ramesh of TN Centre for PIL, based in Madurai, submitted that he had gathered through RTI information and various media reports that there was breakdown in law and order situation in the State. Contending that chain snatching, theft, murder, and other criminal offences had increased in the State, Ramesh said, “Chennai alone witnessed 144 murders, 49 murders for gain, 93 burglaries, 23 kidnappings and 73 sexual harassment incidents in the last six months alone.”
Stating that police force had not increased in proportion with the increase in population of the State, which is the primary reason for the rising incidents of crime, petitioner sought direction to the government to increase the number of police stations and police personnel throughout the State in accordance with the population. The First Bench observed that the issue was completely within the domain of an elected government which is entrusted with this responsibility by the electorate of the State.