In a Public Interest Litigation regarding filling of the various posts in the police force, A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court Comprising Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nagral observed that the Court vide order dated 26.05.2022 has requested Sh. D.C. Raina, Advocate General, to file updated status report regarding the vacancies and the steps taken to fill them.
DB further observed that D.C. Raina, AG, is possessed of the complete chart of the work done in this regard, but it would be better if the said information is brought on record by means of an affidavit of a senior officer.
DB grants month’s time to file the affidavit.
It is worthwhile to mention here that a suo-moto PIL was registered on the directions of Supreme Court. On March 11, the top court of the country, while disposing of a writ petition titled Manish Kumar versus Union of India and others had said the issue and problems involved in the matter are State specific and can be appropriately dealt with by the respective High Courts. The Apex Court had said the records pertaining to each of the States including affidavits and other material be sent by the Registry of the concerned High Courts with a request to the Chief Justice of the High Court to entertain the matter on the Judicial Side as suo moto Public Interest Litigation and monitor the prayers made from time to time. The petitioner before the Supreme Court has prayed that to all the States and Union Territories to constitute Police Commission to deal with allegation of police action, redressal of grievances of police and to make recommendations for the welfare of police force.
“Directions to the States and Union Territories to fill up the vacant posts in the Police and State Armed forces so that the police forces does not remain overburdened”, the petitioner had prayed. He had also sought directions to all the States and Union Territories to provide for periodic training and up-gradation of police force and to fix the working 2 hours for the police personnel. “Direction be issued to the Union of India to prescribe guidelines for the media reporting of the violent mass agitation and police action for prevention and control thereof.