To curb cop-criminal nexus, Punjab caps tenure of SHOs, constables

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 18

In order to eliminate the nexus between criminals and lower-rung police officials, Punjab Police have come out with a new transfer policy with a three-year cap on the tenure of Station House Officers (SHOs) and munshis at one station. 

  In case of constables and head constables, it will be a five-year cap. 

CM Capt Amarinder had asked state DGP Suresh Arora to come out with a new policy as part of police reforms. The changes are to be executed by July 25.

Under the new policy, the minimum tenure of an SHO in charge of a police station will be one year, which may be extended up to three years by the SSP/CP concerned, giving reasons for it in writing. 

No SHO shall be posted in his home sub-division and no upper subordinate (inspector, SI and ASI) or lower subordinate (constable and head constable) will remain posted in the district where a criminal case is filed against him/her. 

On completing eight years in a district, the upper subordinates will be transferred within the police range while those completing 12 years in a range will be shifted to another range. The policy also provides that officers not below the rank of regular SI will be posted as SHOs where such posts are sanctioned. The tenure of the CIA in-charge and those in charge of special staff will ordinarily be one year, which may be extended to a maximum three years by the CP/SSP concerned.

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar called it “a right move with the right intent”, stressing it was required to end corruption in the police and to restore people’s confidence in the force.

But an SHO posted at Nawanshahr, who did not want to be named, was not sure if the new policy was feasible. “It is aimed at ending the criminal-politician-police nexus, which is fine. But a new officer would need time to understand the area’s crime profile, and any delay on his part could boomerang.”