As part of the pre-poll preparations for the Lok Sabha elections, the police are planning to hire Special Police Officers (SPO) in the district to assist local police personnel in maintaining law and order at polling booths. Ex-servicemen, NCC cadets and functionaries of voluntary organisations in the 18 to 60 age group will be given priority.
During the last Lok Sabha elections, around 15,000 SPOs had been recruited to assist the police in booth management in the State due to staff shortage in various police stations.
Station House Officers in the city said they had received instructions from the City Police Chief to complete the selection formalities on time under the Kerala Police Act. Those without major political leanings would be considered after a preliminary verification by the Special Branch.
Eligibility
The police said those with a record of conviction by a criminal court in the past five years or figuring in a case as an accused involving moral turpitude or dismissed from any employment on grounds of corruption would not be eligible to apply for the post. Those found to be associated with subversive organisations too will be ineligible. Station House Officers said the SPOs would not be given any weapon or entrusted with investigation or inquiry into complaints filed by individuals. They will mostly be entrusted with outside poll station duties and supervisions. Their service could be terminated any time during the employment by the District Police Chief without notice, they said.
During the 2014 elections, there were 2,048 polling booths in Kozhikode, where the service of SPOs was effectively used.