Team Herald

PANJIM: Senior Goa Police officers are demoralized by some remark made by the department heads in view of promotions to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. The remarks indirectly question the capability of police officers and their ability to deliver on promotion.

Officers expressed disappointment after reading remarks made in the correspondence to the Under Secretary (Personnel II) from the office of the Director General of Police, in 2013. The correspondence is on amending the Goa Police Service Rules, 1997 for promotion of Inspectors to DySP.

As per the new rules, 50 percent of the vacancies of DySP rank are to be filled in by direct recruitment and 50 percent by promotion which earlier was 20 percent direct recruitment and 80 percent on promotion. 

Supporting the decision of the department, the letter raises serious concerns on the deteriorating quality of officers who are due for promotion, vis-à-vis age, lack of interest, lack of motivation and in some cases candidates with low academic calibre and intelligence. 

“Thus, there are many average and mediocre officers in the service with a corresponding fall in the number of young and outstanding candidates resulting in comparatively inferior personality,” the letter to the Personnel Department states. 

The letter further said that Sub-Inspectors are trained in investigation techniques, law enforcement, law and order duties and to head the Police Station. 

On an average, it takes about 25 years for a PSI to become a DySP, the letter further said stating, “During these 25 years, he develops attitude, he acquires all the personal traits, develops views which later becomes difficult to change and adapt to the new role of DySP”. 

The correspondence has been sought by the officers under RTI and circulated among the senior Police Inspectors. 

“This is a kind of mistrust and demoralising its own officers who have experience of decades of investigating various cases,” an officer said. 

Another officer said, “Promoted DySPs can deliver better service than the direct recruits because only an experienced officer knows best what investigation is.” 

Almost 13 of the Inspectors have made representations to the department against the amendment and have requested to increase the promotion quota.