KOCHI: Identifying lapses on the part of officers of Puliangudi police station, in Tenkasi district, in arresting a resident of Ernakulam, the director general of police (DGP) of Tamil Nadu on Thursday informed the Kerala High Court that new guidelines have been issued for investigations and arresting individuals outside the state.
According to the guidelines, officers must obtain prior written or telephonic permission from their superiors before travelling out of state for an investigation and secure a travel pass from the superior office before leaving the police station. Officers must be in uniform, display visible and clear identification, and wear name tags with their designations.
Shankar Jiwal, the head of TN police, submitted the affidavit in response to a contempt of court case filed by N Prakash, who alleged that his arrest was illegal and violated the guidelines set by the Supreme Court. Prakash, accused of involvement in a cheating case within the jurisdiction of Puliangudi station, said the station house officer in uniform and accompanied by two plainclothesmen entered his house and forcibly took him into custody.
The circular, issued on November 13, said that when a police officer decides to effect an arrest outside the state, he must set out the facts and record reasons in writing disclosing his subjective satisfaction for arrest. Before proceeding outside the state, the officer must make a comprehensive departure entry in the daily diary of his police station. It should contain the names of the officers and private individuals accompanying him, vehicle number, purpose of visit, specific places to visit, and time and date of departure.
It also states that if the person officers are pursuing is a female, a lady police officer shall be part of the team. Before visiting another state, the officer should contact the local police station in whose jurisdiction he is to conduct the probe.
Only official vehicles should be used for transportation to the extent possible, the DGP’s circular produced in the HC said.
The DGP also sought to close the contempt proceedings against him. The court will consider the matter on Friday.