Madras High Court Directs State, DGP To Constitute High-Level Secret Committee To Monitor Police Officials Allegedly Hand-In-Glove With Drug Offenders

Though the bench of Justice P Velmurugan and Justice K Rajasekar appreciated the efforts taken by the state to control the free movement of drugs in the State, the court also noted that if the police officers were efficient and more vigilant, the free movement would be impossible. The court thus suggested setting up the secret committee.

“No doubt, from a perusal of the materials placed by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor, the Government of Tamil Nadu has taken effective steps to control the free movement of the drugs. However, we are of the view that if the police officials are more vigilant and taken effective steps, the free movement of the drugs is impossible. Therefore, the Chief Secretary to Government, Secretary to Government, Home Department, State of Tamil Nadu, and the Director General of Police, Chennai, are directed to constitute a High Level Secret Committee consisting of the officers of integrity to monitor / closely watch the police officials who are suspected to be hand in glove with the drug offenders,” the court said.

The court was hearing a plea by a resident of Madurai to set up a Police Outpost in Iyappan Nagar and Neelamega Nagar in Madurai and take action against motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and prevent the transportation of Ganja and other drugs.

The petitioner had also sought to deploy sufficient number of police personnel for regular night patrolling, install CCTV cameras in important places, and constitute a Special Wing of police officials to take appropriate action against persons involved in the transportation and sale of Ganja and other drugs.

The petitioner had approached the court after witnessing an incident wherein a group of men, in an abnormal mood by consuming alcohol and drugs, were disturbing the public and assaulting other persons with dangerous weapons. The petitioner had argued that the public was not willing to come forward and give a complaint due to the inaction of the police.

The police, however, denied the allegations and informed the court that a criminal case had been registered under Sections 147, 427, 341, 294(B), 323, 324, 307, and 506(i) of the IPC and all the accused persons were arrested and were in judicial custody.

The court agreed that the state was making efforts to deal with NDPS cases. The court noted that in the past 5 years, 49 NDPS cases were registered a total of 78 accused were arrested, and 1070.670 kgs of contraband was seized. The court noted that the state had also opened history sheets against accused involved in NDPS cases that were being monitored by a special team. The court thus agreed that the allegation regarding inaction on the part of the police could not be countenanced.

The court thus observed that the grievances of the petitioner were redressed and disposed of the plea accordingly.

Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr.R.Alagumani

Counsel for the Respondent: Mr.R.Sureshkumar Additional Government Pleader, Mr.T.Senthil Kumar Additional Public Prosecutor

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Mad) 209

Case Title: G.Theeran Thirumurugan @ Thirumurugan v State of Tamil Nadu

Case No: W.P(MD)No.11168 of 2024