Noida: Sub-inspectors can become in-charges of 50% police stations now

NOIDA: The UP government has decided to officially do away with a rule that made it mandatory for at least two-thirds of police stations in every district to have officers in the rank of an inspector as in-charge.
The order, issued by additional chief secretary Awanish Awasthi on Tuesday, said that if “capable” inspectors were not available, those in the rank of sub-inspectors could also be made in-charges of 50% of the police stations. “Postings of inspectors and sub-inspectors be done on the basis of their suitability, capability, diligence, truthfulness, efficiency and practicality. This will lead to encouragement to those inspectors and sub-inspectors who perform better and others will get encouraged to perform well,” the order reads.
The order elicited a mixed response from police officers posted in Noida.
While those in the sub-inspector level said the decision would push them to perform better, their seniors in the level of inspector said the order would hardly make any difference in policing because many sub-inspectors had already been posted as in-charges of police stations.
“This is a welcome move for officers like us. But sub-inspectors were already being posted as in-charges of several police stations. The order will bring little difference. The only change is that sub-inspectors will now have a higher chance of getting posted as police station in-charge,” an officer said.
At present, Noida has 7 sub-inspectors serving as in-charge of police stations.
It was in 2013 that the government made it mandatory for inspectors to be made in-charges of at least two-third police stations in each district. There was a spate of promotions and there were too many inspector-level officers all of a sudden.
“So, this rule was introduced to accommodate those who had become officers in the level of inspector all of a sudden. At least two-thirds of police stations had inspectors to take charge of them. However, in many districts now, sub-inspectors are being given charge of police stations,” said another officer.
Some cops pointed out that officers getting the charge of police stations was solely at the discretion of their seniors.
In several police stations, they said, officers with more experience were serving under inspectors or sub-inspectors who had fewer years in service.
“Giving a charge is more about the discretion of the top-level officer of a district and the perception of the inspector or sub-inspector before the police chief. At present, many sub-inspectors are being given charge of police stations. The latest move can demoralise those in the rank of inspectors,” an officer pointed out.