Captain di sarkar gifts Punjab cops leave on birthday, wedding anniversary

Punjab will arguably be the first state to sanction such leaves for constables.

Did you know that Punjab police constables were not even ensured leave on their birthday and wedding anniversary? Now they will!

All that the constables have to do is file an application, and the leave cannot be denied. (HT File/representative Photo)

The announcement in this regard was made by additional director general of police (ADGP), law and order, Rohit Chaudhary in Bathinda last week during his ongoing tour of districts. Though the idea to have two assured leaves came from a demand charter prepared by constables in Bathinda during feedback taken by Chaudhary, the decision will be for the entire state.

All the constables have to do is file an application, and the leave cannot be denied.

“Whenever I visit districts, we form a group of constables from different police stations and ask them to sit together for two hours to discuss their routine problems. They then submit the demands to me,” the ADGP told Hindustan Times. “In Bathinda, constables pointed out that even after requesting the seniors they are not allowed to avail leaves even for few hours to celebrate their birthdays and marriage anniversaries.”

Since the issue of granting leaves for constables comes under the purview of the senior superintendents of police (SSPs) heading districts, the Bathinda SSP was asked to follow the practice immediately. “For the rest of the districts, too, an advisory is being issued by my office to follow this practice,” he said.

Different independent studies in recent years have found that lack of leave and extended duty hours are reasons behind stress and obesity among Punjab police personnel.

The Congress had promised in its poll manifesto that it will implement the system of weekly offs for constables in police stations. Now, when the party is in power, it needs to be underlined that experts have said that the system cannot be implemented until there is ample staff strength.

By the way, “just to add to their celebrations, police control rooms of the district will also call the constables to wish them a happy birthday and marriage anniversary,” said the ADGP.

Punjab will arguably be the first state to sanction such leaves for constables.