Kerala Police barred from religious events in uniform: DGP circular
Synopsis
Kerala's top cop has drawn a firm line: no police uniform at religious events unless you're on official duty. The circular, triggered by viral social media reels of personnel in uniform at religious gatherings, also bans officers from posting such content online — a rare but pointed reminder that the badge belongs to the state, not the temple or mosque.
Key Takeaways
Kerala DGP and State Police Chief Ravada A.
Chandrasekhar issued a circular barring all police personnel from attending religious events in uniform in a personal capacity.
The order applies to all ranks of the Kerala Police, from civil police officers to senior officials, without exception.
The directive was prompted by complaints about personnel attending religious functions in uniform and posting photographs and videos on social media.
Officers are also prohibited from creating or sharing social media content — including reels and videos — showing them in uniform at religious programmes in a personal capacity.
The restriction does not apply to officers deployed on authorised official duty such as law and order, crowd management, or security arrangements at such events.
The circular states the police uniform symbolises neutrality and impartiality and must not imply official endorsement of any religion.
Kerala Director General of Police and State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar has issued a formal circular directing all police personnel across the state to refrain from attending religious functions, rituals, or celebrations while wearing their official uniform, unless they are on authorised official duty. The order, issued from the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, applies to every rank within the Kerala Police — from civil police officers to senior officials — without exception.
What Prompted the Directive
The circular was triggered by a series of complaints received at the police headquarters against personnel who were seen attending religious events in uniform and subsequently posting photographs and video reels of those appearances on social media platforms. Senior officials said the volume and nature of such complaints made it necessary to issue a fresh set of instructions reiterating the proper and authorised use of the official uniform.
What the Circular Says
According to the circular, police officers are explicitly prohibited from wearing their official uniform while participating in religious ceremonies, festivals, or celebrations in a personal capacity. The restriction, however, does not extend to officers deployed on official duty for purposes such as maintaining law and order, crowd management, or security arrangements during such events — functions that constitute authorised police work.
The circular underscores that the police uniform symbolises the neutrality and impartiality of the force and must not be used in any manner that could create an impression of official endorsement of any particular religion or religious activity.
Social Media Conduct Also Addressed
Beyond the physical attendance issue, officers have been specifically cautioned against creating or sharing social media content — including reels and short videos — that depicts them in uniform while participating in religious programmes in a personal capacity. This addition signals that the headquarters views online visibility as equally consequential to the force's institutional image as physical presence at such events.
Significance and Context
The directive is aimed at reinforcing the professional standards expected of police personnel and preserving the secular character and public credibility of the force. Notably, this is not the first time Indian state police forces have had to address the boundary between personal religious expression and institutional neutrality — similar advisories have been issued in other states in recent years, reflecting a broader concern about the optics of uniformed personnel at sectarian gatherings.
Senior police officials said the instructions are intended to ensure that the official uniform is used strictly for authorised duties and that personnel maintain institutional neutrality at all times. The circular is expected to serve as a clear reminder that the police uniform represents the authority of the state and must not be associated with personal religious activities outside the scope of official assignments.
Point of View
But the public — and more pointedly, minority communities — reads it as a signal of institutional alignment. That the headquarters felt compelled to issue a written order suggests the informal culture of such appearances had become normalised enough to warrant formal correction. The social media dimension is the more telling addition — it reflects an understanding that viral content can do more reputational damage to institutional credibility than the physical act itself. Whether a circular alone changes ingrained behaviour, or whether enforcement mechanisms follow, will determine its real impact.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Kerala Police circular on religious events say?
The circular, issued by Kerala DGP and State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar, directs all police personnel to refrain from attending religious functions, rituals, or celebrations while in uniform unless they are on authorised official duty. It also bars officers from posting social media content depicting them in uniform at such events in a personal capacity.
Why did Kerala Police issue this uniform directive?
The order was prompted by multiple complaints received at the police headquarters against personnel who attended religious events in uniform and shared photographs and video reels of those appearances on social media. Officials said the complaints necessitated a formal reiteration of uniform-use standards.
Does the ban apply to police officers on duty at religious events?
No. The restriction explicitly exempts officers deployed on authorised official duty for purposes such as maintaining law and order, crowd management, or security arrangements at religious events. The ban applies only to personal-capacity participation.
Who does the Kerala Police circular apply to?
The circular applies to all ranks within the Kerala Police, from civil police officers at the entry level to senior officials, making it a force-wide directive without exception.
What is the stated reason for keeping police uniform out of religious events?
The circular states that the police uniform symbolises the neutrality and impartiality of the force and must not be used in a way that could create the impression of official endorsement of any particular religion or religious activity.
