'Deeply Concerned About Abysmally Low Allowances': Orissa High Court Asks State To Consider Raising Allowance Of 'Grama Rakhis'

The Single Bench of Dr. Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi expressed deep concern about 'abysmally low' allowances granted to the Grama Rakhis and emphasizing on their vital roles, he observed –

“The role of Grama Rakhis proactive rather than reactive unlike the police. In fact, increased bureaucratization of police forces gave rise to the emergence of community policing like the Grama Rakhis which emphasises more on crime prevention than crime combating. They do commendable work in helping out police in the rural areas in crime control.”

The Court was hearing a batch of writ petitions filed by the Grama Rakhi Sangha(s) of three districts of the State who had prayed for a direction to the State Government to revise the pay of Grama Rakhis and to extend other service benefits at par with other State Government employees.

Advocate KA Guru appearing for the petitioners submitted that there are about 18445 Grama Rakhis serving in the State, who are getting a meagre salary of Rs. 800/- per month which is considerably low for sustenance in the present economic scenario.

He highlighted different duties discharged by the Grama Rakhis, who act as policemen without uniform. They collect all the important crime/secret reports and advance this information to the Police Station by producing their notebook regularly. They also help in conducting the post-mortem and perform duties as per the direction of the respective Police Station.

He further contended that though they work on a similar footing with all other government employees, but their allowances do not match to the hard work they put in to discharge their duties.

The counsel also informed the Court that the Inspector General of Police (Modernisation) has recommended for increase of allowances of Grama Rakhis to Rs. 6600/-, which is at par with home guards. However, such recommendation was only partially accepted and they were granted an additional sum of only Rs. 300/-.

Upon hearing the submissions, the Court expressed serious concern about the abysmally low allowances granted to the Grama Rakhis. It held that they are integral part of the 'community policing system' of the State.

Despite of such observations, the Court deemed it appropriate to pass the ball to the Court of appropriate government authorities to decide enhancement of the allowances.

“Hence, the Petitioners are directed to approach the concerned department to ventilate their grievances and the said department shall consider a decent allowance structure for the Grama Rakhis considering their diverse and multitasking job profile. The concerned department shall decide the aforesaid allowances in commensurate with their diverse job profile within a period of three months from the date of presentation of the order,” it ordered.

Case Title: Anugul Grama Rakhi Sangha, Barapadara v. State of Odisha & Ors.

Case No: W.P.(C) Nos. 11487 of 2020 along with W.P.(C) Nos.11489 & 11488 of 2020

Counsel for the Petitioners: Mr. K.A. Guru, Advocate

Counsel for the State: Mr. G.R. Mohapatra, Addl. Standing Counsel

Citation: 2024 Live Law (Ori) 65