T.N. DGP calls for complete eradication of orderly system

Days after taking charge as the Director-General of Police/Head of Police Force (in-charge) Abhay Kumar Singh has called for the complete eradication of the system of posting police personnel as orderlies to the residences of serving and retired police officers for unofficial work. 

Referring to an order of the Madras High Court that came down heavily on the posting of orderlies to the residences of serving and retired police officers, Mr. Singh said that the court had taken note of the undertakings given earlier by the DGP/HoPF and other senior officers affirming that police personnel would not be deployed for household or menial work, police sources said. 

Eradicate in entirety

In 2022, the court directed the DGP to make sure that the practice of the orderly system was eradicated in entirety and gave four months to comply with the order. The court also directed the DGP to withdraw the orderlies if deputed to the residence of the serving and retired officials immediately, as it was in violation of law.

The then DGP/HoPF had already instructed all senior officers to implement the court order. All police officers furnished a certificate that none of the police personnel had been deputed to the residences of the residence of serving or retired officers for non-official duties. Higher authorities in the government were empowered to receive complaints of any violation to the order and take action as per the rules, the sources said. 

Court reiterates order 

In a recent case, the court reiterated that the orderly system, which stood abolished as per a 1979 Government Order, should cease to exist. It directed that any orderly, if deployed at the residences of police officials, including those retired, for unofficial work, should be withdrawn immediately, the sources said.

Referring to these developments, Mr. Singh directed all Commissioners of Police, Inspectors General of Police, and Superintendents of Police in the State to conduct an audit and review the situation to ensure that orderly system remained fully eradicated in their respective jurisdictions. 

In case police personnel were posted to the residences of retired police officers to work as orderlies, they should be withdrawn forthwith, Mr. Singh said in an advisory sent to all senior police officers and called for an action-taken report, the sources said.