Madras HC reserves orders on plea to implement GOs providing weekly off to police personnel

Madurai: Madras high court on Wednesday reserved orders on a plea moved by a policeman seeking the implementation of two GOs, which provide one day of compulsory weekly off to police sub-inspectors, head constables, and constables across the state.
Pursuant to the earlier direction, the director general of police (DGP) submitted a report before the court stating that the GOs sanctioning weekly off was being implemented. The state submitted that the petitioner was also granted weekly off whenever he sought the same.
During the course of the hearing on Wednesday, justice Battu Devanand called upon a few policemen who were present before the court and inquired if they are granted weekly off as per the GOs. After elaborately hearing the submissions of the state and the petitioner's counsel, the judge reserved orders in the case.
The court was hearing a petition filed by M Senthil Kumar, a head constable of Austinpatti police station in Madurai district. The petitioner stated that police personnel have to discharge their duty round the clock on all days of the week. Since the personnel are performing duty without any rest physically and mentally, they are under a lot of stress and are unable to spend time with their families.
He stated that a GO was passed in 2021, sanctioning one day weekly off to the police personnel up to the rank of head constable in order to take care of their health and to spend time with their family members. Accepting the same, the DGP also issued a communication to all the police personnel. In 2022, another GO was passed sanctioning one day weekly off to police personnel up to the rank of special sub-inspectors of police and sub-inspectors.
The petitioner stated that the GOs have not come into effect so far. He stated that he was denied weekly off on many occasions. Hence, the petitioner moved court seeking implementation of the GOs.