The Hindu : New Delhi News : Court summons eight SHOs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 16, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Court summons eight SHOs

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday summoned eight Station House Officers (SHOs) of the Delhi police in person asking them to explain why action should not be taken against them for "dereliction of duty", "misconduct" and "insubordination" for not taking action against defacement of public property by sticking posters, bills and writing slogans on walls of such properties.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Rekha Sharma summoned the SHOs when Delhi High Court lawyer Monica Arora showed some photographs of public property, including that of Delhi Metro stations, whose walls had been plastered with posters and bills.

Directing these SHOs having jurisdiction in Panchkuian Road, Najafgarh, Rohini, Malviya Nagar, Vikaspuri, Rohini, Dhaula Kuan, Naraina, Sarvapriya Vihar, Maurice Nagar and Begumpur to be present in the Court on March 29, the Bench directed that summons be served on them through the Police Commissioner.

The Court had last year passed orders saying that defacement of public property is a cognisable offence and the police should register cases and take action on their own if they found violation of the law that protects public property from defacement.

The Bench had further directed that the Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and SHOs would be held liable for the violation of law. The Bench had also directed the city police to pass a circular to this effect.

However, Ms. Arora alleged people were defying the order with impunity and the city police were not taking action against them.

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