Team Herald
PANJIM: Three years after the police brass had banned the constabulary from constantly using mobile phones while on traffic and picketing duty, North District Superintendent of Police Chandan Chowdhary issued a similar advisory to police personnel across all police stations in the district.
The fresh circular comes in view of complaints from people as well as reports in a section of media that police personnel on field duty were seen speaking, messaging or browsing on their mobile phones.
“Several members of public in the past have pointed out such attitude by local police personnel at duty points and even some sections of press had given adverse publicity regarding such unauthorised use of mobile phones by local police personnel. Henceforth, if any police personnel is found using mobile phone while on duty, except for attending to the official call (which also he/she shall do only after moving away from the active duty point) or if found just passing the time by using mobile applications while in uniform, it will be treated as misconduct and will be penalized under Rule 3 (1) of the police subordinate service (discipline and appeal) rules, 1975,” states the circular by the IPS officer.
The sub divisional police officers and police inspectors have been asked to bring this to the notice of all their staff during the roll call for three consecutive days. The subordinates are also instructed to display the circular on the notice boards while the in charge shall personally randomly check staff deployed for field duty. If any such violation is reported, the officers are asked to record it in the station diary after which action will be taken.
In 2014, then Inspector General of Police had issued a similar order as a result of complaints from people across sections, that police personnel often posted on public roads were busy on their mobile phones.
