No word on cops’ weekly offs

LUDHIANA: Like other lucrative announcements by the chief minister, the proposal for a weekly off to police personnel up to the rank of inspector has proved to be mere lip service as even after more than two years have elapsed since the announcement, a decision on it is still awaited.
Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal had, in October 2007, announced that the state’s police personnel up to the rank of inspector would be given weekly offs to relieve them of stress.He had asserted that despite their hectic job, the policemen had not been getting any weekly offs. As a result, it was decided to give police personnel up to the rank of inspector at least one weekly off. However, like other announcements, the matter was relegated to the backburner as even after more than two years have passed, state government has failed to issue a follow-up notification.
Highly placed sources said while the statement issued by the CM was politically motivated, in reality, there were a lot of legal hurdles in implementation of the announcements. Sources revealed that according to Punjab Police Act, all cops are on government duty round-the-clock, all through the year. For this extra labour, they are given salary for 13 months in a year. Sources added that if the cops were given a weekly off, the state would have to part with more than 10% of its daily work force, which would not be viable due to the grave security threat in the state. Due to the promise not being fulfiled, resentment is prevailing among police officers.
An inspector of police said on condition of anonymity that it was sheer injustice with them as there was hardly any room for them to take rest or spend time with their families.
Echoing the sentiment, an assistant sub-inspector said though they were excited about the announcement, it now seemed the same would remain confined to papers. Senior officers of the department were however tightlipped about the matter.