Prayagraj: Taking serious note of the alleged involvement of a policeman in business activities, the Allahabad high court has observed that police stations have become places of commercial activities and that policemen are constantly engaged in business rather than maintaining law and order in the state.In this backdrop, Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal directed the Uttar Pradesh DGP to conduct an inquiry into a Ballia police constable’s alleged transport business.The court further directed the DGP and the additional chief secretary (Home), Uttar Pradesh, to initiate disciplinary proceedings against all police officials and constables of Rasra police station in Ballia district. The HC remarked that the entire police station appeared to be involved in commercial activity, as was evident from the affidavits filed by various authorities and the averments made therein.The DGP has been directed to file an affidavit before the court detailing the action taken within 10 days.The observations were made while hearing a petition regarding the blacklisting of petitioner Harendra Yadav’s truck by the assistant regional transport officer (ARTO), Ballia.The blacklisting was done based on a report submitted by a sub-inspector concerning an ownership dispute between the petitioner and respondent Santosh Kumar, a constable posted at Rasra police station.During the hearing, the court interacted with the constable, who stated that he had withdrawn money from his GPF account and started a business with the petitioner in the name of his brother. A truck was purchased and operated by the petitioner.The court found that the ARTO had blacklisted the vehicle solely on the basis of the report submitted by sub-inspector Shiv Murti Tiwari regarding the ownership dispute.It was further noted that, in his affidavit, the Superintendent of Police, Ballia, had nowhere stated that any action had been taken against the constable for running a transport business while posted at the police station.Expressing shock over the state of affairs, the court observed, “Police stations have become places of commercial activities and policemen are indulging in business activities rather than maintaining law and order in the state. If this is the condition, then no law and order can be maintained as police stations have become places of business.”The court further observed that the officer in charge of Rasra police station and the Superintendent of Police, Ballia, had protected the constable by submitting a report in his favour to the ARTO, Ballia, who had blacklisted the vehicle and restrained its transfer.The court, in its order dated July 27, directed the DGP to inquire into the commercial activities allegedly taking place at Rasra police station and ordered disciplinary proceedings against all police officials and constables posted there.The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on Aug 11.
