T.N. government constitutes district-level committees to abolish police orderly system, Madras High Court told

The Tamil Nadu government, on Thursday (February 5, 2026), informed the Madras High Court of having issued a Government Order (G.O.) on January 21, 2026 constituting district-level committees headed by the Collectors for eradicating orderly system (the practice of engaging policemen to perform household work in the residence of higher officials) in the police department.

Appearing before the third Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and Justice C. Kumarappan, Advocate General (A-G) P.S. Raman submitted a copy of the G.O. He said, the government had implemented the directions issued by the Division Bench on January 7 with regard to constitution of the district-level committees but had made slight modifications.

The G.O. stated a five-member committee would be constituted in every district under the chairpersonship of the respective Collector and those committees would comprise of the District Revenue Officer (DRO), another officer chosen by the Collector from among officers in the rank of DRO, the Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) and one more officer chosen by the Collector from among officers in the rank of AdSP.

Listing out the functions of the district-level committees, the G.O. said as directed by the Division Bench in its judicial order, the committees shall gather information, receive complaints from any person in any form, i.e., either oral or through electronic mode or even a written complaint and initiate all appropriate action to abolish the orderly system in police department.

“The district-level committees shall ensure that no police personnel are deputed to perform the household works or personal works of the higher officials of the police department and issue necessary directions to depute those orderlies on regular police duty. They shall submit periodical reports to the Home Secretary once in two months to monitor implementation of the government policy and court orders,” the G.O. read.

As far as Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai cities were concerned, the Collector/chairperson of the district-level committees concerned shall constitute required number of teams to ensure abolition of orderly system. The chairpersons of the committees shall convene the first meeting immediately and send periodic reports to the government before the 10^th day of every odd month of a year, the G.O. added.

“On receipt of reports or complaints from the district level committees or from any other person, the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home (Pol.VI) department shall initiate all appropriate actions, including departmental and disciplinary proceedings against the officials concerned,” the G.O. concluded.

After taking the G.O. on file and insisting upon the need for the State government to monitor the actions taken by the district-level committees, the judges adjourned the hearing of the matter by four weeks to take stock of the situation thereafter.