PAP officers are SHOs despite DGP’s orders

Aman Sood

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Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 1

In violation of the Punjab Police Act, 2008, and the orders of the DGP, Punjab Armed Police (PAP)-cadre officers are posted as SHOs in the district.

In 2012, the then DGP had “discouraged postings from one cadre to another” and had ordered all SSPs and Commissioners to ensure no such officer gets a posting as SHO.

However, in many districts PAP-cadre officials continue as SHOs against norms as local politicians back them for obvious reasons.

Sources said such officers continue to serve in Mansa, Majitha, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Patiala. Two such officers are closely related to SAD leaders.

Sources say all such officers were sent back top their parent cadre in 2012, but a handful of them returned as SHOs following orders from their political masters.

In his orders dated May, 10, 2012, the then DGP had written a letter to all SSPs and Commissioners saying, “In order to implement the cadre structure as laid down in the Punjab Police Act, 2008, and with a view to strengthen the command and control structure of the district police, it has been decided that attachment from one cadre to another shall be strongly discouraged.”

“No official on attachment from armed battalions or any other cadre to the district police shall be posted as SHO of police station or incharge of a police post.”

“In case any officials already posted as SHOs are not as per the above guidelines, then the same may be replaced immediately with suitable officials fulfilling the above guidelines today itself,” the order stipulated.

“There should be transparency in the force. While we were removed overnight in 2012, a few of our batch mates still continue as SHOs. Otherwise there is no harm to obey the DGP orders and serve own department,” said one such PAP cadre officer who was sent back to his parent cadre almost four years ago.

A senior IPS officer said that these inter-cadre postings as SHOs have the backing of top political leaders. “Such illegal postings cause heartburn among the sidelined officers and also sends a wrong message for others,” he added.

“These officers in the rank of SI and Inspectors get their salaries from PAP but are given an exception against DGP orders and Punjab Police Act, 2008. Such examples spoil inter-cadre discipline,” claimed an Inspector with the district cadre, awaiting his posting.