Appeal of police personnel against pay deduction dismissed

Madurai,Feb 2 (PTI): A Division bench of Madras High Courttoday dismissed an appeal by four police personnel against theHome Secretary''s order to deduct Rs 40000 from their salariesordered as compensation by State Human Rights Commission,forallegedly handcuffing a retired fire officer and detaining himin prison in 2006 for not carrying his two wheeler licence.

Justices N Paul Vasantha Kumar and R Subbiah said the SHRChad given cogent reasons regarding ill-treatment and mentalagony caused to the retired fire officer K Kumar.

His arrest and seven-day confinement in jail for a bailableoffence "shows ill-will towards him by the petitioners,"including a woman Sub-Inspector, while handcuffing him was aserioius violation of Humanrights and Inhuman.

The SHRC findings were based on appreciation of oral anddocumentary evidence.

The judge also rejected the personnel''s contention that thefire officer delayed in approaching SHRC. "This cannot betreated as a ground to disbelieve the version of the officer."

The Home Department had directed the DGP to deduct Rs 15000each from salaries of the two SIs and Rs 5000 from the salaryof the two HCs to pay the compensation as ordered by SHRC.

Murganantham, one of the petitioners had earlier filed awrit petition, challenging the order, but withdrew it withoutliberty. He had filed another petition, along with threeothers, by filing a false affidavit stating that he obtainedliberty earlier while withdrawing it. Hence he should pay Rs2500 as fine payable to the Mediation and conciliation centreof the Madurai Bench.