Odisha govt strips DGP of power to transfer officers of DySP rank

The Odisha government has entrusted the power to appoint and transfer officers to a committee headed by the state home secretary

Published on: Jul 27, 2024, 17:32:18 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Twenty-two years after the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government empowered the state director general of police to transfer police officers in the rank of deputy superintendents of police and equivalent ranks, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Mohan Charan Majhi divested the top cop of the power and instead entrusted it to a committee headed by the state home secretary.

In 2002, the BJD government had given the DGP the power of making transfers and postings of police officers. (Representational image)

A Home department notification said the transfer and postings in the rank of DSPs/assistant commandant (AC) and additional superintendent of police (ASP)/deputy commandant (DC) will be carried out by a committee chaired by the home secretary with the DGP as a member. The other members of the committee will be special secretary/ additional secretary or joint secretary of the Home department.

The Home department said the committee will also function as a forum of appeal for disposing of representation from officers regarding their transfers and postings. In 2002, the BJD government had given the DGP the power of making transfers and postings of police officers in the rank of DSP/AC and ASP/DC.

A former DGP, who didn’t want to be named, said if the state police chief on his own can’t transfer officers in the rank of deputy SP and above, then he would remain just a titular head. “The independence of the DGP would severely be affected as the Home department officials would have a greater say on transfer and postings than the police chief. The DGP has information about all the officials of the force and should have freedom in transfer and posting. If a panel would decide transfer and postings, the DGP would lose authority and it may demoralise the force. Besides, the Supreme Court order that DGPs should be appointed for a fixed tenure of at least two years would largely remain a ceremonial order if the state police chiefs don’t get enough freedom and authority,” said the retired DGP.

Former DGP Bipin Bihari Mishra said the government’s decision to constitute a committee at Home department level to decide the transfers and postings of DSPs and ASPs would end up giving more powers to the IAS officers.

“The DGP has all the information about the officers. How would the Home secretary know about the working of Dy SPs and decide on transfer and posting?” he asked.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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