Candidature of candidates for posts of Constables in Uniformed Services cannot be rejected without complying guidelines issued by Director General of Police

Candidature of candidates to the post of Grade II Police Constables was rejected on the ground that they were involved in criminal cases and their involvement was suppressed either in the application form or during the verification roll or both. When the candidates have been acquitted from the criminal cases, the stand taken by them is that the acquittal itself is honourable. Further, they pleaded that the offences for which they have been implicated are either petty offences or the case itself is trivial in nature.

As quoted by Justice M.S. Ramesh, “Concerned Superintendents of Police (SP) of various Districts in Tamil Nadu / Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) in cities, did not exercise their powers as per guidelines issued, to verify as to whether the judgment of acquittal in favour of petitioners, were honourable or not. Neither was any step initiated to verify the nature of these offences as to whether they are petty or trivial in nature. Possibly to avoid these derelictions, some of the States in our Country have constituted “Screening Committees”, consisting of top rank police officials, which is appropriate and imperative. This Court makes a strong recommendation to the Home Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu to consider the formation of a 'Screening Committee' for its future recruitments in the Police Department.”

Justice M.S. Ramesh issued direction to the concerned Superintendents of Police of the various Districts in Tamil Nadu/ Deputy Commissioners of the cities, to whose jurisdiction the candidates herein are subjected for the Common Recruitment Process - 2019 to re-scrutinize their candidatures, in the light of the observations made in the present order and take further course of action, in the recruitment process.

Appearing counsel/s : Mr.Kannan, Mr.K.Chellapandian