Dedicated Helpline Number '14449' To Be Allotted For Lodging Complaints Against Police Misconduct: Gujarat Govt Tells High Court

Advocate General Kamal Trivedi presented the affidavit, detailing that the helpline would be operational within the next 15 days, complemented by awareness campaigns for the public.

The above development came in response to a suo motu public interest litigation following an incident where traffic cops and a traffic regulation brigade (TRB) personnel extorted Rs 60,000 from a couple traveling late at night.

At an earlier hearing last year, the division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee had suggested that the state may set up a helpline for citizens to complain of grievances against the police.

During Friday's hearing, Trivedi informed the bench that the helpline number, once activated, will function as an independent platform for individuals to report instances of police misconduct. Operating 24/7, similar to the emergency 100 helpline, it aims to provide a dedicated avenue for lodging complaints.

Trivedi further informed the Court, stating, "The Union ministry of communications has intimated the state and service providers that the shortcode 14449 has been allotted to the state government as a dedicated helpline number to lodge complaints of police misconduct."

However, he added that the helpline had not been activated by the concerned service providers yet, possibly due to technical issues. He anticipated that it would take approximately 15 days to resolve these glitches.

Krina Kalla, representing amicus curiae Shalin Mehta, emphasized the impracticality of the helpline number '14449,' stating that it should be a more memorable rhyming number.

In response, Advocate General Trivedi defended the choice, comparing it favorably to the existing helpline number '1064' for the Anti-Corruption Bureau. He asserted that assigning special numbers falls under the jurisdiction of the Centre and assured the bench that the new helpline number would be extensively promoted.

Following the arguments, the court decided to reconvene for a further hearing on February 16.

Background

The case in question involved an incident on August 25, Milan Kela, along with his wife Priyanka and their one-year-old son, were returning from Thailand when they were halted near Ongjad Toll Plaza. Reportedly, they were extorted Rs 60,000 by two traffic cops and an LRD jawan. Following the incident report, the accused were apprehended.