Gurgaon SHOs burn midnight oil to clear exam, remain as police station chiefs

This comes a couple of days after Gurgaon police commissioner Sandeep Khirwar announced that written tests will be held for the selection of SHOs across the district, a move that would do away with the alleged influence peddling and corruption in police postings.

“I have started brushing up on the IPC (Indian Penal Code) and CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) sections. Even other laws, particularly those related to women and children, have to be studied. Although we deal with these on a regular basis, now that we have to give a written exam, it’s better to learn all sections by heart,” an SHO of one of the police stations in East District (police) said.

The exam was initially scheduled to be held on June 24 but got delayed due to other engagements. Khirwar said owing to the monsoon, officials were busy with traffic duties, apart from their daily work.(Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

He is not the only SHO who has started brushing up on criminal law. Another SHO of a police station in south district said although he wasn’t specifically preparing for the exam, he too was going through “the IPC and CrPC”.

This comes a couple of days after Gurgaon police commissioner Sandeep Khirwar announced that written tests will be held for the selection of SHOs across the district, a move that would do away with the alleged influence peddling and corruption in police postings.

Khirwar said during a regular meeting with SHOs in the district, he realised that “some were not up to the mark”.

“There was no specific incident. During a general meeting with the inspectors and SHOs, I found that not all of them were up to date about the laws and sections,” Khirwar said.

He said there were many new developments in laws, particularly those related to women and children, and the written test will be “an opportunity to refresh one’s knowledge”.

The exam was initially scheduled to be held on June 24 but got delayed due to other engagements. Khirwar said owing to the monsoon, officials were busy with traffic duties, apart from their daily work.

He said the exam will be conducted before July ends, preferably on a Sunday.

The question paper will test an officer’s knowledge of the IPC, CrPC, and other laws.

A team comprising DCP (traffic) Simarjit Singh and ACP ( DLF Phase 1) Pankhuri Yadav has been given the task of setting the question paper. Sources said the paper will be for 100 marks.

Sources said while those directly posted as inspectors and SHOs are graduates and post graduates, some who were promoted to these posts are not so academically qualified.

Police said written exams would ensure that postings are based on merit and the aptitude of an officer.

“It is no secret that some get their posts because of connections and influence. Also, seniority plays a huge role. The written exam would, however, guarantee that only those who are capable get to head a police station,” an officer said.

The Gurgaon CP said this wasn’t the first time a written exam is being conducted in Haryana. He said Faridabad, Jhajjhar and other cities too hold exams to select SHOs.