CISF Officer's "Midnight Lemon Request To Woman's Door" Deemed Preposterous By Bombay High Court

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Today (13th March): The Bombay High Court upheld the penalty of a CISF officer’s late-night request for a lemon at a woman’s door as preposterous.

CISF Officer's "Midnight Lemon Request to Woman's Door" Deemed Preposterous by Bombay High Court — CISF Officer’s “Midnight Lemon Request to Woman’s Door” Deemed Preposterous by Bombay High Court

Mumbai: Today (March 13), the Bombay High Court upheld the penalty imposed on a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel for misconduct, deeming his actions unbecoming of an officer. The court’s decision came in response to a petition filed by Arvind Kumar, a constable posted at BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited) in Mumbai, challenging the disciplinary action taken against him by his superiors between July 2021 and June 2022.

Background

The incident occurred on the nights of April 19 and April 20, 2021, when Kumar allegedly knocked on the doors of his neighbor’s house, where a woman and her six-year-old daughter resided. The woman, fearing for her safety, informed Kumar that her husband was away on duty in West Bengal and urged him not to disturb her. Despite her warnings, Kumar persisted until eventually leaving after being threatened by the woman.

Kumar defended his actions, claiming that he was feeling unwell and had only sought a lemon from his neighbor due to a supposed medical emergency. However, the court found his explanation untenable, noting that Kumar had consumed alcohol prior to the incident and was aware of the absence of the woman’s husband.

In its ruling, the court deemed Kumar’s behavior preposterous and unbecoming of a CISF officer. The judges emphasized that the petitioner’s actions, particularly considering the absence of the woman’s husband and the trivial nature of his request, were unacceptable.

“The petitioner’s act of knocking on the neighbor’s door, fully aware of the absence of the male resident and with the household comprising solely of a woman and her six-year-old daughter, all for the trivial purpose of obtaining a lemon under the guise of a supposed stomach ailment, is utterly absurd,” stated the High Court.

The court further declared that such behavior was unquestionably inappropriate for an officer representing an esteemed force like the CISF, thereby dismissing Kumar’s petition.

“Upon thorough consideration, it is evident that the petitioner’s motives are far from genuine or transparent as claimed,” the court concluded.

The penalty imposed on Kumar includes a reduction in salary for three years and a freeze on any increments during this period. The court dismissed Kumar’s contention that the incident did not amount to misconduct as he was off-duty at the time, citing the Central Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, which require government servants to maintain integrity and uphold their responsibilities at all times.

Ultimately, the Bombay High Court’s decision serves as a reminder of the standards of conduct expected from law enforcement personnel and the consequences of failing to meet these expectations.