Quick Summary: Kaleeswaran's dream of becoming a Grade II Police Constable was dashed by the court because of his past criminal record. The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court upheld the decision to deny him the job, citing rules that disqualify candidates with criminal backgrounds.
Kaleeswaran applied for the position of Grade II Police Constable. However, his application was turned down because of his criminal record. The rejection was based on a decision from the Superintendent of Police, Ramanathapuram District, dated November 28, 2018. This decision was later challenged in court.
The court found that Kaleeswaran had been involved in criminal activities. Specifically, he was involved in cases under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges related to assault and threatening others. Even though he was found not guilty in some cases, the rules still considered him as having a criminal background.
"A person found not guilty due to lack of evidence...shall be treated as a person involved in a criminal case."
Judge A.D. Maria Clete oversaw the case. The court upheld the decision to deny Kaleeswaran's appointment, referencing Rule 13 of the Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Services Rules. This rule states that candidates with criminal backgrounds are not eligible for police service.
The decision was supported by earlier court decisions, including a ruling in the case of J. Alex Ponseelan v. Director General of Police. The court stressed that the police force needs individuals with flawless character.
"The police force is a disciplined group, where only a person with the highest integrity is eligible for recruitment."
The court determined that Kaleeswaran's request was not suitable to be considered, and it was dismissed. The rules and previous court decisions clearly supported the choice to exclude candidates with criminal records from joining the police force.
