Head Constable suspended for insubordination

Amit Sharma 

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 19 

A Head Constable (HC) posted at the Sector 26 police station has been suspended for insubordination by the Chandigarh police after he reportedly argued with an SHO over phone. The HC, however, claimed that he had worked for 36 hours before taking a rest of 10 hours still he was told by the SHO that he did not work. 

HC Balbir was suspended on Thursday, a few hours after he had a telephonic conversation with Inspector Poonam Dilawari, SHO at the Sector 26 police station. 

When contacted, UT SSP Nilambari Jagdale said the HC had been suspended for misconduct.

Meanwhile, Balbir said the SHO called him and asked him to do some work, which he agreed to do, however, surprisingly, the SHO told him that he did not work. “I am a heart patient. I worked for around 36 hours before taking a rest of only 10 hours still the SHO told me that I don’t work. This is very disturbing,” he added. 

Balbir said he was under continuous stress despite working hard for the department. 

The call recording between the SHO and the HC was produced before senior officers after which the HC was suspended and sent to the Sector 26 Police Lines. 

The SSP said that she had the phone recording of the cop and what he said was not justified. “If he had any problem then there are official mechanisms to voice problems, but in-subordination on any pretext won’t be tolerated,” the SSP added. 

It is pertinent to mention that the rising stress level among the police has claimed 135 lives of police personnel in the past nine years. Meanwhile, 18 have died due to cardiac arrest during this period.