‘Don’t use eda edi,’ the Kerala High Court advises police
The Kerala High Court on Friday ordered the State’s District Police Chief to write a circular to the entire police force, instructing them to be polite and respectful when interacting with the people.
The court also stated that police officers must not use phrases like eda and edi, which are often used in Malayalam but are deemed unfriendly. The cops must not use such language in their official dealings with the public, according to the court.
A single-judge bench of the Kerala High Court, led by Justice Devan Ramachandran, gave the order. The court did so after hearing a plea from the father of a 15-year-old girl who claimed that the police had used derogatory language while speaking with his daughter during a COVID-19 vehicle check.
“Police officers must learn to communicate with the people in a courteous manner. The cops have no legal authority to call Eda or Edi. There should be a sense of decorum. The DGP shall issue a circular with detailed instructions “According to ANI, the court stated.
In his appeal, the petitioner accused police officers from the Cherpu station in the Thrissur district of speaking to his daughter in a harsh and unfriendly manner.
On the same day, the court criticised the practise of gawking wages, which is still popular in the state, when hearing another case. Gawking wages, also known as nokkukooli, is a practise practised by Kerala’s trade unions in which salaries are paid to headload workers for the loading and unloading done by other workers.
The court, hearing a petition from a Kollam businessman, stated that headload workers’ rights must be legally protected.
The court further stated that the habit of gawking wages was detrimental to Kerala’s reputation. It went on to say that the practise has to be stopped since it provides the false impression of the state.
