Guj HC issues notices to State Govt, DGP on police union issue

Ahmedabad, Nov 21 (UNI) The Gujarat High Court today issued notices to the Gujarat Government and the Director General of police on the issue of recognition of police unions.

The notices were issued in response to petitions filed by Naresh Brahmbhatt, president of Gujarat State Police Head Constables Association, and Kanti Parmar, president of Gujarat State Police Constables Association.

The petitioners had challenged the order of DGP P C Pande prohibiting policemen from becoming members of unions or associations.

While serving the notices, Justice H K Rathod observed that the right to form an association or participate in trade union activities is a fundamental right and can not be abridged in any manner.

The police associations were derecognised by the State Government in 1988.

In his November 10 order, Mr Pande said joining trade union activities will be an offence under Section 3(1)(b) of Police Forces (Restriction of Right) Act of 1966. He had directed that action be initiated against those police personnel who were found indulging in union activities.

There are over 60,000 police personnel in Gujarat of whom 6,000 had signed in favour of forming unions. An application for recognition of the union was sent to the DGP on July 13, according to Mr Brahmbhatt.

On December 2, a convention of Gujarat Police personnel will be organised to decide the future cours of action, Mr Brahmbhatt said.

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