Police Under Severe Stress During Pandemic, Can't Be Subjected To Abuse/Threat: Madras HC Directs Man Who Abused Police To Pay 10K

Noting that the Police are already functioning under severe stress due to the pandemic situation, the Madras High Court on Monday asked an accused who allegedly abused Police and prevented them from doing their public duty, to pay 10,000 as compensation.

The Bench of Justice N. Anand Venkatesh was hearing the plea of the accused person who were travelling in an Auto-Rikshaw 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.

At the outset, the Court observed:

"In the considered view of this Court, the Police are already functioning under severe stress due to the pandemic situation. Everyone should realize their responsibility since the virus is taking away the 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."

Importantly, the Court also remarked:

"The Police cannot be subjected to abuse and threat by anyone and such acts must be dealt with very sternly. This Court is not going to be lenient when it comes of threatening the Police, when they are performing their duty during this pandemic situation."

Therefore, the petitioner was 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 Court observed that the petitioner must also be made to pay some amount as compensation. Therefore, the petitioner was directed to deposit a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) before the Advocate Clerk's Welfare Association, Madurai.

The case has been posted for further reporting compliance on June 14, 2021, and in the meantime, the Police have been directed to not arrest the petitioner.

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