I was riding my bike in my home town. I was stopped at the signal by a Police Officer ( Civil Police Officer).
“Documents edukkeda” he said.
This manner of addressing someone in Malayalam is discourteous, if you are not known to each other.
I meekly showed him all documents of my vehicle, including my driver’s licence. Once I was clear on everything, he said that I may go.
I slowly parked my vehicle, got off from the bike and then showed him my ID card first. Then I asked why he had addressed me the way he did initially. I plainly told him on his face that unless he apologizes, I would be complaining about his behaviour to the Superintendent of Police and pursue the matter until it is rectified.
I have read the Kerala Police Act, and I know very clearly that a Police Officer has to behave courteously to the public. I said this also to him. He promptly apologized and said that he wouldn’t repeat it. I left the spot without making any more demands off him.
In a country where rule of law is followed, no one is more powerful than the other. The government officials are merely there for the discharge of sovereign functions of the state. In the discharge of their duties, they are powerful within the ambit of the Law they are administering, as long as they follow the law in letter and spirit. Even a police constable is more powerful than any IRS/IAS/IFS officer, when he catches hold of you for a violation of the law.
When administering the Income Tax Act or Benami Act, or some function entrusted to an IRS officer, they are all powerful as long as due procedure is followed. Same goes for any officer of the State.
The days of a feudal bureaucracy are over. The most powerful person is the person who is well read and aware of the laws of the land.