Was Thinking of Panel for Complaints Against Officials, Police: CJI NV Ramana

This move comes after ADG of Police of Chhattisgarh Gurjinder Singh seeks protection from arrest in criminal cases.

File Photo of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Friday, 1 October, orally observed that he had thought of creating a panel to examine atrocities and complaints against bureaucrats, particularly police officers, headed by the chief justice of the concerned high court.

"I have lot of reservations at the way, how bureaucracy particularly, how police officers are behaving in this country. I was at one time thinking of creating a standing committee to examine atrocities and complaints against bureaucrats, particularly police officers, headed by the Chief Justice of the high court. I want to reserve that. Don't want to do now," he said.

A bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, was hearing a plea filed by suspended Additional Director General of Police of Chhattisgarh Gurjinder Pal Singh seeking protection from arrest in criminal cases of sedition, extortion, and owning disproportionate assets against him.

The Case of Gurjinder Pal Singh

On 27 September, the top court told Singh's counsel that his client cannot take protection from arrest in every case, and pointed out that things take a wrong turn when people start extracting money, as they were close to the government.

"When you're good with government, you may extract... then you've to pay back with interest. This is too much, why should we grant protection to such officers?," the chief justice had remarked, adding that such police officers must not be protected but must be jailed.

On 26 August, the top court had orally pointed out at a disturbing trend, where police officials, siding with the party in power, later getting targeted when another political dispensation comes into power.

The chief justice had said, "When a political party is in power, police officials side with it.... then, when a new party comes into power, the government initiates action against those officials. This is a new trend, which needs to be stopped."

Three special leave petitions have been moved before the apex court against the Chhattisgarh High Court orders, where the court declined to quash the FIRs against Singh.

A case was filed against Singh based on a written complaint by the state's anti-corruption bureau, based on preliminary findings that he had amassed disproportionate assets. Certain documents were seized from his possession, which pointed at his involvement in a conspiracy against the government.