Names and details to be removed; Kerala police with decisive move; beneficial for those under all police stations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The details of those acquitted by the courts should be removed from the registers of police stations. Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas has ordered that a circular be issued from the police headquarters and communicated to all police stations in the state.

The order was issued on the complaint that the information of those acquitted by the court not being removed from the police records is leading to difficulty in obtaining police clearance certificates.

The State Police Chief had clarified that steps were being taken to revise the Kerala Police Manual in a timely manner for the removal of information about those who are acquitted from the station register. Accepting this explanation, the Commission asked that this be completed within a maximum of 3 months. A committee of senior officials has been formed for this purpose. The state police chief informed the commission that committees including high-ranking officials are being formed to comprehensively revise the outdated police manual following the implementation of the new criminal laws on July 1, 2024.

The report also states that the Kerala Police Academy Director has been instructed to include a proposal in the draft of the Kerala Police Manual to remove the details of those acquitted by the court from the relevant register in a timely manner. Justice Alexander Thomas asked the state police chief to ensure that the circular is strictly followed. The action was taken on a complaint filed by public activist Ajo Kuttikan.