PANJIM: After recruiting over a thousand policemen in the last three years, the sudden inclusion of driving license as a pre-employment condition in the fresh recruitment drive of lady police sub inspectors resulted in the rejection of applications of nearly 360 women aspirants.
Even as the department has a strength of 6,600 personnel, it recently advertised 300 vacancies to induct women into the force. These numbers include 79 PSIs and 221 police constables.
In what could be a bad coincidence for women applicants, the department – for the first time – has made it compulsory to have a driving licence. The clause has led nearly 360 of around 764 applicants to be disqualified in the very first stage of the recruitment process.
The department officials are themselves not content with the change in the recruitment procedure even as the recruitment rules mention this requirement.
“The driving licence was never mandatory in the past and many got inducted into the force despite not knowing how to drive or ride. An abrupt decision to strictly implement RRs has put aspiring candidates on the back foot though many could be eligible from the other point of view,” said an officer, who is on the recruitment panel.
The verification of documents, physical measurements and physical efficiency test for the lady PSI began this Wednesday while the procedure for the lady police constables will begin on April 23. Goa police received a tremendous response for the special drive with a total of 2355 applications for the 300 posts.
“While the department has relaxed the existing RRs for height, weight, running, long jump and high jump; driving licence has been a major roadblock. We do not know how many will reach the final stage of recruitment for the PSIs post,” the officer said.
