MP High Court Flags ‘Social Media Intoxication’ Among Police While Upholding Constable’s Compulsory Retirement

The Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld the compulsory retirement of a police constable who was found intoxicated and asleep while on guard duty.

The Bench of Justices Anand Pathak and Pushpendra Yadav, while affirming the action, also raised concern over a growing form of indiscipline, “social media intoxication” among police personnel.

The Court noted that officers in relatively non-active postings were often distracted by mobile phones and social media, leading to casualness and professional misconduct.

The Court recommended sensitisation programmes in training centres and effective supervisory mechanisms to regulate social media use during duty hours. 

[Ashok Kumar Tripathi v. State of Madhya Pradesh]