Integration of police wings: Cops from CI rank may be excluded

Arjun Raghunath
First Published : 01 May 2010 10:37:20 AM IST
Last Updated :

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After wracking their brains for several months, the top brass of the state police has come out with a new formula for a `muddle-free’ integration of the local police and district armed reserve units.

As per the new formula, the integration of the local and Armed Reserve units would be limited up to the rank of sub-inspectors. Those in the rank of circle inspectors and above would not be integrated so as to avoid seniority issues.

It is reliably learnt that the Police Headquarters has recently submitted a fresh proposal to the government in this regard after several rounds of discussions at various levels, including with the representatives of various associations of police officials. The proposal is under the consideration of the Home Department. The seniority issues mainly prevailed at the level of circle inspectors. The scope for promotion had been much better in Armed Reserve than in the local stream. Hence, many police officers who entered the Armed Reserve are in a higher rank compared to those who entered the local wing on the same day.

Owing to this disparity, the integration of the two units would lead to reversion of a section of police officials, especially those in the rank of circle inspectors. This would eventually lead to a series of litigations.

Moreover, the associations of police constables as well as officers had also strongly objected to it.

Considering these facts, the Police Department has now worked out a new proposal to avoid integration at the level of circle-inspectors and above for the time being. However, a section in the police still feel that there would be seniority issues at sub-inspector level also. The integration of Armed Reserve and local stream was announced by the government a couple of years back. The lack of sufficient manpower for routine law and order maintenance duties had prompted the government to go for integration.

However, it is getting delayed owing to the technical issues involved and the stiff opposition from within the police force. Going for integration of the two wings without sorting out the concerns of the cops would end up in unrest in the force as well as legal muddle. Hence, the government is keeping off from any hasty moves.

Once both these units are integrated, all fresh recruitments would be to a single unit and hence there would not be seniority issues in future and those in the ranks of circle inspector and above could be integrated in due course, said sources.