Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal has directed senior police officers across the state to hold structured public grievance sessions twice every week, in a move aimed at making law enforcement more accessible and accountable to citizens. The order, issued by the DGP, designates Wednesdays and Saturdays as Public Grievance Redressal Days.

Key Directives

Under the order, officers ranging from Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) to Superintendents of Police (SPs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), Inspectors General (IGs), and Police Commissioners must remain available at their respective offices from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the designated days to personally receive public complaints. The directive applies across all districts and police units in the state.

Senior officers have been specifically instructed to interact courteously with complainants, listen attentively to their concerns, and take appropriate action within a stipulated time frame. The order explicitly states that members of the public must be treated with respect and that grievances should be resolved without unnecessary delay.

Continuity and Accountability Measures

Recognising that senior officers may occasionally be unavailable due to court appearances, official meetings, law-and-order duties, or other unavoidable commitments, the DGP has directed that the next senior-most officer present must step in to hear complaints and initiate necessary action. This provision is designed to prevent citizens from being turned away or made to wait indefinitely.

The DGP further directed that all complaints received during these sessions must be processed expeditiously and monitored until appropriate action is taken. The State Police Headquarters will closely track both the implementation of the mechanism and the individual performance of officers in handling grievances.

Why This Matters

The initiative reflects a broader push within the Tamil Nadu Police to bridge the trust deficit between citizens and law enforcement — a challenge that is not unique to the state. Structured public-access windows at the level of senior officers are relatively rare in Indian police administration, where grievance redressal has traditionally been informal and inconsistent.

Notably, by mandating officer-level accountability and headquarters-level monitoring, the order goes beyond a routine circular — it creates a traceable performance metric for senior police officials. This comes amid growing public demand for police reforms and greater transparency in grievance handling across Indian states.

What Happens Next

With State Police Headquarters tasked with oversight, the success of the initiative will depend on consistent implementation at the district level. Officers who fail to hold the sessions or delegate without valid reason could face scrutiny. Citizens in Tamil Nadu can now approach designated offices every Wednesday and Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to directly register complaints with senior police officials.