KL Report
SRINAGAR
With Cabinet having delayed the much needed reshuffle and postings in Police department repeatedly over a month now owing to standoff between two senior congress Ministers on adjustment of their ‘blue eyed’ officers as SSP Jammu, functioning of the department is reportedly taking a heavy toll due to non availability of officers. Sources in the department revealed that the additional charge syndrome in civilian departments has crept up in Police also which has nearly put some of the sensitive decisions and functioning to a halt.
“There are nearly 70 posts of commandants, SSP’s, Additional SP’s, deputy Commandants and other such posts vacant in Police,” a senior Police officer wishing anonymity told a local news agency, KNS on Wednesday. He added that these posts are either completely lying vacant or held by other officers as additional charge which has severely hit the routine work of these offices.
“We have number of wings without the commandants or SSP’s and these wings have been left on the mercy of DSP’s,” added the officer.
Pertinently some of the important districts of the state including the winter capital Jammu, Central District in Valley Budgam and the all important Northern District of Baramullah are either without SSP or Additional SSP. These posts were expected to be filled up in the last cabinet meeting before Durbar move at Jammu last month, but owing to the reported disagreement between two senior Congress Ministers Deputy Chief Minster Tara Chand and PHE Minster Sham al Sharma over the posting of an IPS officer as SSP Jammu, Chief Minster reportedly deferred the entire reshuffle in Police.
Sources in the Police department told KNS that this was not the first time that political interference has marred the functioning of the department but stressed that political and bureaucratic interferences have been right there for so many years which has severally hit the prospects of a better functioning of the Police department.
“There hasn’t been any promotion of DSP’s for last six years. There are some having gone to court, there are impediments from bureaucracy and the politicians, all have contributed in the adversity of the Police department,” said a visibly enraged Deputy Superintendent, adding that a list of more than 80 officers awaiting promotion to SP rank was lying with Chief Minster for approval since the closure of durbar move last month.
“All the names have been cleared in DPC, but the file is still pending with CM for approval,” said the officer.
Meanwhile Director General Police Ashok Prasad chose to downplay the matter and said that the reshuffle would soon take place.
“This is not a big issue. We have worked on it and hopefully the cabinet will take a call on it very shortly,” DGP told KNS. Minister of State for Home Sajad Ahamd Kichloo could not be reached for a word despite several attempts by KNS. However senior Cabinet Minster Taj Mohi ud din said that the home department lies with Chief Minster and this is his prerogative to propose a reshuffle in Police.
“Home comes under CM. It is his discretion when he wants to bring proposal of reshuffle to cabinet,” Taj told KNS.
