KOCHI: The High Court directed the DGP to ensure that all police personnel wear name badges along with their uniforms while on duty. The high court made this direction after considering the allegation that many policemen who confronted the protestors during the Sabarimala protest in 2018 were not wearing name badges.

A division bench comprising Justice Anil K Narendran, and Justice P G Ajithkumar settled the petitions filed by Pathanamthitta resident Suresh Kumar in which it was alleged that policemen without name badges tortured protesters and vandalized many vehicles.

The government meanwhile informed the court that they completed a department-level inquiry against eight policemen accused in the case. The high court said the police action during the protest should be seen as an attempt to reinstate law and order in the state but not any act of torture.