Cops at Poes Garden down to 15: A-G

CHENNAI: THE number of police personnel deployed to guard the residence of former chief minsiter J Jayalalithaa at Poes Garden has been reduced from 50 to 15, the Madras High Court was informed.

When a writ petition relating to indiscriminate sale and use of banned tobacco products near schools and public places came up on Monday, Additional Advocate General K Venkatramani shared the information with Justice N Kirubakaran. The judge said that the relieved 35 personnel could be used for some other work. When the matter came up on the earlier occasion. the judge was told that there was no sufficient police personnel to check the tobacco menace. This prompted the judge to ask why a huge police force has been deployed at the former CM’s residence, even after her death.

“To prevent the youngsters from getting addicted, special steps have to be taken to monitor both schools and colleges. If no such steps are taken, definitely chances of youngsters getting addicted to drugs would be more. Hence, necessary action has to be taken,” the judge said and directed the AAG to file the action-taken report.

Apart from the above, the judge added that appropriate sections like 77 and 78 of the Juvenile Justice Act had to be invoked for booking persons who sell drugs or contraband items to the school children. The higher authorities should invariably inform the police and sensitise them to the correct provisions of law, in case the drug peddlers or sellers are booked. The users also should be appropriately booked and subjected to appropriate medical examination at the time of arrest.