Chennai: The standing order issued from the office of the Commissioner, Greater Chennai Police, on Thursday, stated that the move was aimed at effective functioning of the stations. According to the order, all-women police will be headed by the respective Deputy Commissioners in the 12 police districts in the city. While DCs will monitor the registration and investigation and trial of cases, range Assistant Commissioners will be responsible for administrative matters like granting leaves, monitoring daily status reports, inspections and visits.

Jurisdictional Joint Commissioners will be responsible for transfer of sub-inspectors and below, while inter-zone transfers will be decided by Additional Commissioners (L&O).

The Deputy Commissioner of CAWC, to whom all the AWPS inspectors and Additional Deputy Commissioners reported to, will now head the anti-child traffic unit, Investigative Unit of Crime against Women and Children, Anti-dowry cell and Juvenile Aid Protection Unit. A senior officer told DT Next that the step was taken as it was burdensome for one DC to handle 35 all-women police stations, pointing out that even law and order Deputy Commissioners have only about 10 police stations under their control. “So it was hard for one Deputy Commissioner to supervise all AWPSs as they too handle several cases. Also, the law and order Assistant Commissioners and DCs are oblivious to the developments due to the present set up, which ought to be changed,” said a senior officer.

The officer added that DC (CAWC) will still be part of the AWPS matters related to the personnel’s welfare apart from aiding them in serious cases.