Tamil Nadu Government Establishes District Committees to Abolish Police Orderly System
In a significant development, the Tamil Nadu government informed the Madras High Court on Thursday that it has issued a government order (GO) to constitute district-level committees. These committees are tasked with ensuring the complete abolition of the orderly system within the state police force.
Court Proceedings and Government Submission
Advocate-General P S Raman presented this submission before a division bench comprising Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice C Kumarappan. The court had earlier directed the Advocate-General to assist in this matter, prompting the government's response. The bench, upon recording the submissions, emphasized that the GO must be implemented in both letter and spirit. It further mandated that the district committees, which will be headed by the respective district collectors, must guarantee that the orderly system is entirely eradicated from the Tamil Nadu police force.
Background and Court's Previous Actions
The issue came to the forefront on December 19, 2025, when the bench, citing a news article about the persistence of the orderly system in the Tamil Nadu police, rejected the state government's claim that the system had been completely abolished. In response, the court suo motu impleaded the chief secretary and home secretary of the state government, directing them to file an explanation. The court referenced a Times of India article dated December 17, titled 'DGP sets out to end orderly system, directs men to be back on duty,' which indicated that approximately 4% of the state's 1.3 lakh police personnel, or nearly 5,000 constables, might still be functioning as orderlies.
Next Steps and Monitoring
Following the submission, the court adjourned the hearing for four weeks to allow the state government to file an action taken report. This step underscores the court's commitment to monitoring the implementation of the GO and ensuring compliance with its directives. The formation of district-level committees marks a proactive measure by the Tamil Nadu government to address systemic issues within the police force, aiming to enhance efficiency and professionalism by eliminating outdated practices like the orderly system.
