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Tamil Nadu cops directed not to take gifts, dowry

Police officers shall not make a habitual use of vehicles and animals belonging to persona other than a member of their family.

Chennai: Directing the police not to accept or give dowry the Director General of Police J K. Tripathy has issued a circular to all the police officers not to accept gifts worth more than Rs 200.

In the circular issued by Tripathy stated that in accordance with the directions of Madurai bench of Madras high court, the following rule provision based on the Rule 4 of Tamil Nadu Subordinate Police Officer’s Conduct Rules 1964 regarding acceptance of gifts, gratuities, rewards and dowry is communicated to all the unit officers for guidance.

He said no police officer shall, except with the previous sanction of the DGP, accept directly or indirectly on his at her own behalf, or on behalf of any other person, or permit his wife or husband or any other member of his or her family to accept from any person any gift, gratuity or reward or any offer of gift, gratuity or reward.

Provided that the sanction of the Director General of Police shall not be necessary for acceptance of gift from a personal friend of a value not exceeding Rs 200 on special occasion such as weddings, anniversaries, funerals and religious functions when the making or receiving of such gifts is in conformity with the prevailing religious or social customs and gifts from relatives without any monetary limit regarding their value on special occasion such as wedding, making or receiving of such gift is in conformity with the prevailing religious or social customs. All police officers shall use their best endeavours to discourage the tender of such gifts.

Police officers shall not make a habitual use of vehicles and animals belonging to persona other than a member of their family or to travel free of charge in any vehicle plying for hire.

In the circular he stated that no police officer shall enter into any transaction with any private person or firm or company, engaged on any business or profession, for the purchase of costly second hand goods such as vehicles for conveyance, furniture and electrical domestic appliances at a favourable price which may tend to result in favoritism or patronage being shown to the Police Officer or which may render such police officer under an obligation to such private person or firm or company and which may be construed as a subtle form of corruption.

Recently, the Madras high court directed the Director General of Police to issue a circular to all police officers in the state, reminding them to not accept gifts, bouquets or dowry within six weeks.

The court observed that Tamil Nadu Subordinate Police Officers Conduct Rules, 1964, categorically states that behaving unbecoming of a government servant itself is misconduct. The court said the DGP is bound to remind the conduct rules to all the police officials, so as to ensure that costly flowers and bouquets or similar articles of trifling values are not presented to any police officers.

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