Police cannot barge into house of history sheeters at night for surveillance, says Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court has stated that police personnel cannot barge into the house of history sheeters or suspects in criminal cases at night, by citing surveillance as a reason.

Every man’s house is his castle or temple, the sanctity of which cannot be vilified by knocking on the door at odd hours. A person’s right to life encompassed the right to live with dignity, the court observed, while hearing a petition filed by an alleged history sheeter who sought the quashing of a case registered against him under the Kerala Police Act.

The Thopumpady Police had registered a case against him on the charge of threatening police personnel. Subsequently, as part of their night check duty on history sheeters, the police went to his house at midnight to verify whether he was available there. He reportedly refused to open the door and to abide by the directions of the police, while also abusing and intimidated the police personnel. The petitioner approached the High Court seeking to quash the case.