Kolkata Police has implemented a new directive requiring all personnel to wear uniforms while on official duties, except for those in specific specialized units like the Detective Department and Cybercrime Division. Officers not exempted must obtain prior authorization from higher authorities before performing official tasks out of uniform. This decision, confirmed by a senior police official, was formalized through an official notification issued by Police Commissioner Ajay Nand on May 24.
The order specifies that officers and staff, apart from those in exempted departments, must be in uniform when conducting raids, making arrests, maintaining law and order, or fulfilling any official responsibilities. The notification references a 1997 Supreme Court judgment in the D.K. Basu versus West Bengal Government case during the Left Front regime, which established guidelines to prevent police misconduct, custodial torture, and deaths in custody.
In line with the Supreme Court’s directive, police officers on duty are not only required to wear uniforms but also mandated to display visible name tags with accurate designations. This landmark judgment is significant for upholding fundamental rights under Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution, emphasizing the importance of police accountability and adherence to legal protocols.
