‘Police must serve the State’: Madras HC on political speech and arrests ‘Police must serve the State, not the ruling party’: Madras HC

The Madras High Court has made strong observations on political speech, police impartiality and the use of criminal law against critics of those in power. While granting anticipatory bail to DMK councillor D Sudha in a case over alleged remarks against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Justice N Ramesh said political criticism cannot be treated as a public-order offence merely because it is offensive or insulting.

The judge also referred to the detention of MIDS professor A Kalaiyarasan over a fake social media account and questioned police accountability. He said the police must serve the State, not the party in power.