Indian Police Service: The rusted steel frame

The recent developments in the Karnataka Police and elsewhere have unambiguously demonstrated that the steel frame of Indian Police has rusted. Two past directors of the CBI are under scanner for being in touch with ‘undesirable’ persons. An IGP in Kerala was caught copying in an examination. Now an IGP in Karnataka has been suspended for his alleged links with a lottery kingpin.

Why are such things happening in the IPS? For me, the foremost reason is lack of supervision and foresight. A constable is supposed to be supervised by his sub-inspector, a PSI by his inspector or DySP, a DySP by his SP, SP by his IG and so on. This is meant to ensure a chain of command and adherence to discipline to prevent wrongdoings.

Weekly parades, periodic inspection of police stations and other offices, strict punishments involving dismissal and removal, annual performance appraisals, a good grievance redressal mechanism, and various levels of supervision in investigation of crime ensured that a policeman’s performance was constantly under watch. When a policeman did a wrong, punishment was quick to come by. Many IPS officers stopped performing this supervisory role citing more pressing law and order and security issues.

Like defence forces, it is expected of the police to be aloof from politics and religion. This was to create neutrality and objectivity apart from camaraderie within the ranks. Till a few decades ago, to ensure proper functioning of the police, the head of the force, and through him the other functionaries, had freedom to transfer officers and men to the posts considered suitable to the skill sets of that individual.

Big money in politics changed all that. The moment politicians realised that it is essential to have their trusted police officers in their constituencies especially during elections, they started interfering in police transfers. Caste and money came to play a big role in this. The IPS abdicated its role in police transfers in favour of politicians.

This led to disastrous consequences, the first casualty being discipline, which is the most important factor in running a uniformed force. Subordinate police officers stopped listening to their superiors and started listening to their political masters.  Money, caste, community and political affiliation, rather than suitability to hold a post, played a major role. Instead of loyalty to the constitution, policemen became loyal to their political masters.

Some police chiefs reasoned that in a democracy, people’s representatives should have a say in police matters. Some initiated disciplinary proceedings against their errant subordinates, but when this didn’t give the desired results, they gave up.

The IPS is an All India Service and its members are expected to not only serve the state but also the Centre. However, many IPS officers today resist going on deputation and want to remain in the state because of personal comforts like children’s education, wife’s career etc. With the Central deputation quota not being fully utilised, the states have to accommodate more number of officers resulting in creation of posts having less or poor job content.

With limited availability of important and ‘glamorous’ posts, many IPS officers vied with each other to get posts of their choice never hesitating to use political or financial power. In this sense, some IPS officers not only imitated their subordinates but also sought their help in getting a good post. Once they got a post they wanted, they remained glued to it. Even when they got transferred, they managed to come back to similar posts like a proverbial bad coin. This necessitated compromises on their part.

No proper mechanism

There is no proper mechanism to supervise the working of IPS officers above the level of SPs. Seniors have started tolerating many transgressions of their juniors. Though it is mandated that the performance of each IPS officer needs to be monitored by his superior officer, this is rarely done.

Senior officers want to be in the good books of their juniors. The Annual Appraisal Report, which is a major tool for promoting an officer, has become a sham – a majority of officers reported upon get grades of seven or more out of 10. Adverse reports are glorious exceptions.

The anti-corruption drives or disciplinary proceedings against errant police officers are also few and far between making a corrupt officer continue his activities without any fear.
Many officers booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act have come out scot-free cocking a snook at the Lok Ayukta or the CBI.

Those officers who are honest and efficient have become mute spectators abetting the wrongdoing of their juniors. Since they have given up their supervisory roles, indiscipline, corruption, casteism, and hobnobbing with undesirable elements have become common.
Those officers who still respect the constitution and are conscientious know that when the Supreme Court-mandated police reforms have not become a reality, it is safe to keep mum. Many have forgotten that Bengaluru had a Police Commissioner who never allowed a CM to interfere in police transfers. An IPS officer of Karnataka resigned his job instead of toeing a politician’s line.

If the IPS loses its flavour, none can prevent the steel frame from rusting. It is high time that honest and sincere IPS officers, who are still in a majority, act boldly to put their house in order and bring the service back on track.

(The author was DGP, Karnataka)