The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court taking a serious view of the manner in which a complaint against demand of dowry came to be closed sought an explanation from the police officers of All Women Police Station at Alangulam in Tenkasi district.Justice L. Victoria Gowri said that police officers cannot assume unto themselves the jurisdiction to convert allegations of cognizable offences into private monetary settlements. The duty of the police is to enforce the law not to negotiate its dilution.The judge said at the outset the court cannot remain oblivious to the significant policy initiatives recently undertaken by the State government for the protection of women and children, particularly the constitution of the Singappen Special Task Force, which has rightly been projected as a specialised all-women force dedicated to strengthening the safety and security of women. Such initiatives deserve commendation and reflect the constitutional commitment of the State towards gender justice.However, the optimism generated by such progressive measures stands in stark contrast to the disturbing realities that continue to surface in the functioning of certain All Women Police Stations. It is indeed paradoxical that while institutional mechanisms are being strengthened at the policy level, the foundational institutions entrusted with the immediate protection of women are, in several instances, failing to discharge their statutory responsibilities with the required degree of sensitivity and legality, the court said.The primary purpose behind establishing All Women Police Stations was never confined merely to registration of criminal cases. They were expected to perform a delicate institutional balance protecting victims of domestic violence and dowry harassment, preserving family harmony wherever legally permissible, promoting gender sensitisation within society and, above all, ensuring that justice remains accessible to vulnerable women. The officers manning such stations are expected to function not merely as investigators but also as facilitators of justice, equipped with empathy, legal acumen and constitutional sensitivity, the court said.It is deeply disturbing that, instead of inspiring confidence among women, some All Women Police Stations are increasingly perceived as informal forums for negotiated settlements, often overlooking the mandatory requirements of criminal law. Instances where complaints involving cognizable offences are informally compromised, depending upon the influence, financial strength or bargaining power of the parties, seriously erode public confidence in the administration of criminal justice, the court said.The court was hearing a petition filed by a man from Tenkasi district. He had arranged the marriage of his daughter. However, the family sought more dowry. The petitioner cancelled the marriage and approached the police seeking action be taken based on his complaint against the demand of dowry. The police allegedly facilitated a private settlement.The court directed the Inspector and the Sub-Inspector of the AWPS to appear before the court. The court sought an explanation for reasons for not registering a First Information Report on the basis of the allegations contained in the petitioner’s complaint, the legal authority under which the complaint was treated as settled without initiating criminal proceedings and the circumstances under which the complaint came to be closed despite allegations relating to demand and receipt of dowry.The court directed the Inspector and the Sub-Inspector of the AWPS to deposit a sum of ₹1 lakh each with the Siddha Clinic at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court for their dereliction of duty. The court posted the matter for hearing to July 14. Published - July 11, 2026 06:43 pm IST