THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state police found itself on the defensive by acting hastily to evict a family by ignoring court orders and departmental directives not to intervene in civil cases unless there are law and order issues. Several people lashed out at the police by stating that it is responsible for the death of Rajan and his wife Ambili. It has also been accused of orphaning two children. In civil cases, such as property disputes, the order is enforced by the officials from the court or else the court would direct the police to enforce the order. Despite knowing that the High Court was considering the case, the police tried to evacuate the house on the order of the Municipal Court.

The police went to evict the family just before the High Court considered Rajan's plea to stay the Neyyattinkara court order for eviction. Rajan had approached the high court on May 21 seeking a stay. The High Court, which heard the petition on the afternoon of the 22nd, stayed the order of the Munsiff Court till January 15. An interim order was also issued to send a notice to the opposing Vasantha via speed post. On the morning of the verdict, went on to evict Rajan and his family.

The Munsiff Court's order was an ex-parte order without hearing the arguments of Rajan. Such orders need not be implemented in a hurry. Even if the parties obtain an execution order by filing an execution petition to enforce the order, police protection should be provided for evictions only after investigating the circumstances.