THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although the DGP has issued a circular that the public has the right to record audio and video footage of police action to ensure dignified behaviour, most of the police officers in the state are not taking it seriously.

On January 30, the DGP had directed that police officers should not prevent the public from recording video or electronic documents. However, the police officers are arguing that filming their actions on camera will make their jobs more difficult. The police officer, who is named as accused in the case of insulting a lawyer at the Alathur police station, gave this affidavit in the High Court in the contempt of court case against him.

The High Court came down heavily on this. "Don't the police know the law? There is no need to hide any proceedings of the police. Those police officers, who claim that recording police action would hinder their work, should be sent to learn the law. In modern countries, all proceedings are kept on record for transparency," Justice Devan Ramachandran said.

It was explicitly stated in the DGP's circular that certain officers were acting disrespectfully and indecently towards people who came to the stations. Police should talk and behave respectfully towards people. They should use only polite language. The circular also says that the officers' behaviour towards the people should be monitored and action should be taken against the culprits.

Former DGP Anil Kant had issued a warning, saying that there would be an instant investigation and action if someone recorded the cops acting outrageously and published it on social media or if it was featured in media outlets like newspapers.