Cops accused of manhandling lawyer, others discharged

Two policemen have been discharged by a Delhi court on charges of allegedly manhandling a lawyer and his associates, saying their action was within the boundaries of discharging official duties.

The sessions court, which upheld a magisterial court’s order, also observed that 

the two sub-inspectors were rightly discharged on the ground that there was absence of a sanction order to prosecute public servant.

“If the contents of the documents produced before the court by the policemen are considered, it is made clear that they were present at the spot in discharge of their official duties and the action taken by them at the spot be covered by the term ‘discharge of official duties’.

“It has been rightly observed by trial court that it may be a case of dereliction in duty or exceeding the duty by the policemen. However, it would be considered to be an act in discharge of public duties and hence, it would fall within the purview of section 197(sanction to prosecute public servant) of the CrPC,” Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Jindal said.