300 tainted cops enjoying sensitive postings

Human rights violation and excesses upon common citizenry by police is not new, but one would be taken aback to know that the responsibility of maintenance of law and order in the national Capital lies in the hands of police force whose more than 300 police personnel of “doubtful integrity” having pending criminal cases against them are enjoying sensitive postings.

 The gravity of the situation in other parts of country is not hard to imagine when Delhi Police which comes directly under the Union Home Ministry have more than 300 “tainted” police personnel having questionable integrity posted at various police stations across the national capital. Maximum numbers of such personnel are posted at North East district followed by Central and North West district respectively, revealed an RTI.

Among the accused police personnel are ranks and files ranging from Constables, Head Constables, Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASI), Sub Inspectors (SI), Inspectors and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), as per the information disclosed by RTI.

 “According to rules, police personnel having pending criminal cases against them are considered under 'doubtful integrity' category until proven guilty or not i.e. convicted or acquitted by the law court. Such personnel won't get any sensitive posting that includes being posted at units such as Police stations, traffic and crime branch among others. Ironically, such “doubtful” personnel are assigned with the prime responsibilities,” said an activist.

According to RTI, topping the chart is North-East district where 27 Constables, 21 Head Constables, 5 ASI and 7 SI are of “doubtful category”. Whereas Central district is second in fray with 28 Constables, 10 Head Constables, 5 ASI, 5 such SI posted at various police station under the district. The other district follow suit.

“We have filed an RTI on 7 July and the response was astonishing. If there are police personnel posted with criminal case the public won't feel secure. We want secure and friendly police,” said Zeeshan Haider, who had filed the RTI.

 “Delhi police is very strict towards posting. If there is any criminal case registered against the police personnel while performing his or her duty we don't post such personnel in the sensitive areas. Whereas if there is personal case against someone, we carefully look into the matter and then decide about his posting,” said Madhur Verma, Public Relation Officer (PRO)  of Delhi Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi district.  Adding, he will look into the RTI matter pertaining to alleged posting of various police officials despite having criminal cases against them. 

However in backdrop of the fact that the Delhi police is facing the shortage of staff posting such personnel at sensitive locations seems imperative. As per the latest figures, Delhi has a sanctioned strength of 84,685 police personnel out of which 8,091 posts are lying vacant.

“There is shortage of police personnel in the force but in order to maintain law and order sometimes even such police personnel who have some pending cases against them are given posting at the police stations,” said a source.