The Madras High Court has censured the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for continuing to use the colonial orderly system, which was supposed to have been abolished in 2008, TOI reported.
The court has ordered the central government to stop the “humiliating” practice immediately.
The salary due to the government employee who was assigned to serve as an orderly should be recovered from the officer involved as soon as possible by following the procedures, Justice S M Subramaniam was reported saying.
He added that salary recovery must be done in addition to departmental action against seniors.
The ruling was issued in response to a petition filed by M Muthu, a CRPF policeman who was purportedly sacked for refusing to conduct orderly duty.
The HC reversed the dismissal, stating that trained uniformed troops shall under no circumstances be used to undertake menial activities at the dwellings of the higher authorities or to do their personal work.
The orderly system is the practice of using juniors as “orderlies” for the official and personal service of senior officers in the police force and armed services.
Following the 1857 Mutiny, the modern force in India, especially the police, was modelled after the Royal Irish Constabulary and established as a paramilitary organisation to secure the colonial rulers’ power and keeping the locals in the forces at bay.
Even after independence, this antiquated statute continues to influence the police actions made by the states and UTs. As a result, the police and armed forces continued to follow the pre-independence administrative system.
