Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to UT Administration, State of Haryana and Punjab moved by a city-based cop seeking introduction of eight-hour shift pattern system in all police stations and police posts of Chandigarh.
The case
In August last year, UT head constable Jagjeet Singh had filed a PIL through counsel Sumati Jund in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking an eight-hour shift for all cops in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana. He also sought directions for weekly offs to assure efficient and people-friendly policing.
The petitioner had argued that a work shift of more than 12-hours is medieval and draconian rule against the general conscience of human being. His lawyer had argued that these long hours not only tire the cops physically and mentally, but also disturb their personal, physical and social lives.
The court was requested to issue orders for implementing the November 2014 research report that had recommended shift rotation in the police stations to serve the public better. On December 26, 2014, the Bureau of Police Research and Development had forwarded a copy of the report to DGPs in all states and UTs for its implementation. Till date, no SSP has examined or used the advice, she argued.
Jund submitted the need to ensure rest, leisure and reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay, as well as remuneration for public holidays, which have been blatantly ignored while allocating daily duties to the police personnel in Chandigarh.
Cop moves Supreme Court
After the plea was dismissed by the High Court on December 4, 2019, the petitioner moved Supreme Court and it has now issue notice to UT Administration alongwith the states of Punjab and Haryana.
