‘Cops Busy Doing Business, Not Maintaining Law And Order’: Allahabad HC Slams UP Police
‘Cops Busy Doing Business, Not Maintaining Law And Order’: Allahabad HC Slams UP Police Published By, Last Updated: August 02, 2026, 09:55 IST The court
‘Cops Busy Doing Business, Not Maintaining Law And Order’: Allahabad HC Slams UP Police Published By, Last Updated: August 02, 2026, 09:55 IST The court also instructed the DGP and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to begin disciplinary proceedings against all police officials and constables posted at the police station. Rapid Read Representative image The Allahabad High Court has raised concerns over the functioning of police stations in Uttar Pradesh, observing that they have turned into centres of commercial activities, with policemen allegedly engaging in business instead of focusing on maintaining law and order. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, while hearing a petition, directed the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to investigate allegations that a police constable posted at Rasra police station in Ballia district was involved in a transport business. The court also instructed the DGP and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to begin disciplinary proceedings against all police officials and constables posted at the police station.
The DGP has been asked to submit an affidavit within 10 days, providing details of the action taken in the matter. The observations came during the hearing of a petition filed by Harendra Yadav, challenging the blacklisting of his truck by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Ballia. The vehicle was blacklisted based on a report submitted by Sub-Inspector Shiv Murti Tiwari in connection with an ownership dispute between Yadav and Santosh Kumar, a constable posted at Rasra police station. During the proceedings, the court questioned the constable, who claimed that he had withdrawn money from his GPF account and started a business with Yadav in his brother’s name. A truck was purchased as part of the business and was being operated by Yadav. The court noted that the ARTO had blacklisted the vehicle only based on the sub-inspector’s report regarding the ownership dispute. It also pointed out that the affidavit filed by the Superintendent of Police, Ballia, did not mention any action taken against the constable for allegedly running a transport business while being posted at the police station.
Expressing shock over the situation, the court said, “This court is shocked that police stations have become a place of commercial activities and policemen are indulging in business activities rather than maintaining law and order in the state. If this be the condition, then no law and order could be maintained as police stations have become a place of business." The court further observed that the officer in charge of Rasra police station and the SP of Ballia had protected the constable by submitting a report in his favour before the ARTO, who had blacklisted the vehicle and restricted its transfer. The court remarked that the entire police station appeared to be involved in commercial activities, based on the affidavits submitted by various authorities and the statements made in them. Through its order dated July 27, the court directed the DGP to conduct an inquiry into the alleged commercial activities at Rasra police station and initiate disciplinary proceedings against all police officials and constables posted there.
The BriefWire