According to police sources, the order (passed on February 4) was issued after one such case of ‘exploitation’ in the canteen at the New Police Line, Fourth Battalion, came to the notice of the court.

The petitioner in the case, Rajender Singh, had alleged that the police exploited him. Another person, Prem Singh, had filed a similar complaint.

Dadwal’s order states: “It was observed that the petitioners were working as halwais and mess boys in the canteen run by police personnel without daily wages or regularisation.

The order further says that “it does not reflect well on the conduct and reputation of the police personnel to resort to the exploitation of the worker employed by them to manage their mess at police stations.”

The Commissioner has also warned the cops in case the trend persisted. “If such employment of a private individual comes to notice, the concerned police personal shall be held responsible and be liable to be placed under suspension, and disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.

“He will also be liable to pay wages and all other benefits from his salary to the private individual,” Dadwal said in the order.