Chennai: District collectors will be held responsible if any police officer in the district concerned was found to be using orderlies in violation of a govt order (GO) prohibiting the ‘colonial practice’, Madras high court has said. Directing the state govt to take suitable action against such district collectors, a division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice K Surender said: “…the colonial practice, since abolished long before, in practice continues. Thus, the govt is duty bound to work out modalities to enforce their own policy decision, if necessary, by initiating suitable actions not only against the collectors but also against the police officials concerned.” On March 6, following a submission by advocate-general P S Raman seeking enforcement procedures for police authorities, the bench said, “district collectors, on receipt of any information or written complaint, are expected to act swiftly to conduct an inquiry through the officials and initiate appropriate action as per the GO.” TNN
