The Bombay High Court expressed its displeasure over various reports of “unusual and humiliating punishments which are meted out by police personnel under the garb of enforcing the lockdown directives.”
The Court has requested that the Police Commissioner sensitise the police to “ensure that such sordid incidents do not occur.”
Justice Rohit B Deo emphasised, “the end does not necessarily justify the means.”
“The police personnel who have indulged in a blatant violation of human dignity were expected to be alive to our society being a civilized society governed by the rule of law. While extraordinary situations may call for extraordinary measures, the measures must have the sanction of law. Human dignity and rights cannot be sacrificed at the altar of extraordinary situations nor can the constitutional right to a dignified life be hostage to supposed intentions.”
The Court has directed that no extra-legal measures or punishments shall be taken recourse to by the police authorities while enforcing the lockdown.
“The police machinery has sufficient power under the provisions of law which would enable strict enforcement of the lockdown directives.”
Advocate Anil Kamale, representing the petitioner, had brought to the Court’s attention that alleged violators of the lockdown had been photographed holding placards declaring them as an enemy of the nation, the society, the family and humanity. These photographs were published in prominent newspapers and gone viral on social media.
The Court has now also requested the Government Pleader to verify whether the instances highlighted by the petitioner have occurred or not.
The matter is expected to be taken up next on May 21.
Read the PIL here:
