It’s said that the police take the initiative of mediating in civil and commercial disputes particularly those which involve large sums of money. The police cannot interfere in any civil dispute, including that of property, unless ordered by a competent court. Police interfering in civil matters and threatening and coercing people are nothing but violations of the fundamental rights of citizens. Issues pertaining to property disputes come within the domain of the civil courts and the parties should approach those courts for redressal and are outside the limits of the duties of the police. And even court directives to police officials sitting on complaints go unheeded. Such interference will not only demean the stature of the police but also lead to rampant corruption and favouritism. It’s the duty of higher authorities to take proactive measures and curb the menace of these informal ‘adalats’. The police should focus on investigating crime and maintaining law and order. Moreover, the Apex court had also repeatedly laid down that when the dispute between the two citizens is of civil nature and no crime is registered, police have no jurisdiction to interfere. There should be a regulatory mechanism to check this menace and to prevent such intervention by the police.
