The Madras High Court on Monday asked an accused who allegedly abused police and prevented them from doing their public duty, to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation while noting that the police are already functioning under severe stress due to the pandemic situation.
This order has been given by a single bench of Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, while hearing a petition.
In this case, the main allegation that has been made against the accused persons is that they were travelling in an auto-rickshaw without following the Covid-19 protocol and when the same was questioned by the police, they are said to have abused them and prevented them from doing their public duty.
Additional Public Prosecutor S.Ravi, appearing for the respondent Police, on instructions, has submitted that accused nos.1 to 3 were arrested and remanded to judicial custody and the other two persons are absconding.
The Court held that, “In the considered view of the Court, the Police are already functioning under severe stress due to the pandemic situation. Everyone should realize their responsibility, since virus is taking away precious lives of innocent persons. After all, the Police are only performing their public duty and when they are questioned by someone, who is moving around, when there is a total lockdown, the concerned person is expected to properly answer the Police”.
“The Police cannot be subjected to abuse and threat by anyone and such acts must be dealt with very sternly. The Court is not going to be lenient when it comes of threatening the Police, when they are performing their duty during this pandemic situation”, the Court said.
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“The Petitioner is directed to file an affidavit in the Registry expressing regret for the entire incident and giving an undertaking that he will not involve himself in any such activity in future. That apart, the petitioner must also be made to pay some amount as compensation. Therefore, the Petitioner is directed to deposit a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) before the Advocate Clerk’s Welfare Association, Madurai, on or before June 11, 2021”, the Court ordered.
“Post the case under the caption for reporting compliance on June 14, 2021. In the meantime the respondent Police shall not arrest the Petitioner”, the order said.