Delhi Police Bearing The Burden Of IPS Instead Of Strengthening Its Backbone

Delhi Police has more than 14,000 vacant positions ranging from constables to station house officers. Approximately 23% of these vacancies are for the station house officers responsible for ground-level management. However, the perspective changes completely when it comes to IPS officers, as 10 IPS officers were appointed to the positions of Special CP and Joint CP, despite the lack of vacancies.

Instead of strengthening the weak backbone of Delhi Police, the burden on its shoulders is increasing. There are more than 10,000 vacant positions, including ACPs and inspectors. Rather than including the promoted officers in these positions, they are being used for their services. Surprisingly, despite the unsuccessful efforts to strengthen the foundation, 10 IPS officers without positions were appointed as Special CP and Joint CP.

14,000 positions are vacant

Preparations for the G20 summit are underway in the national capital, Delhi. However, the current state of law and order can tarnish the country’s image. It is astonishing that the Delhi Police failed to fill the vacant positions in a timely manner. Looking at the statistics from last week, there are 14,244 vacant positions. Out of these, 10,744 positions are only for constables and head constables, who are considered the backbone of the police system.

Thousands of positions empty for station house officers

Station house officers play a crucial role in managing at the ground level in the police department. This includes both SI and ASI level officers. However, out of a total of 8,086 SI positions, 1,950 are vacant, and out of 7,312 ASI positions, 389 are vacant.

Exploitation of functional ranks

Between April and July last year, nearly 215 inspectors were promoted to the functional rank of ACP. However, a recent order from the current commissioner, Sanjay Arora, has undermined their position by deteriorating their status. Surprisingly, there are currently 167 vacant ACP positions in the department. This situation raises the possibility of accommodating many functional rank ACPs. However, no serious action has been taken in this direction regarding lower-level officers.

No standard for IPS officers

While there is an ongoing double standard for staff working on the ground in departments, the situation has changed when it comes to IPS officers, from the Police Commissioner to the Central Home Ministry. This is evidenced by the fact that despite the absence of positions for Special and Joint CP in the Delhi Police, 10 IPS officers have been appointed there by creating new positions for them. There are 17 positions for Special CP in the police, yet there are still 24 officers deployed. Similarly, instead of 17 positions for Joint CP, 20 officers have been appointed. It is noteworthy that at this level, each officer deployed in such positions also has to appoint around 10 to 15 police personnel.

DANIPS officers also face mistreatment

In the Delhi Police, it is not only constables, head constables, station house officers, and inspectors who face mistreatment, but also DANIPS officers appointed through the UPSC have to endure second-class treatment. These officers were previously appointed as Additional DCP and in some cases as DCP, but most of their important positions have been handed over to IPS officers. Moreover, out of the total 54 positions for DANIPS officers, 32 are also vacant. No one seems to be concerned about filling them.

Questions are being raised about performance

Due to the sluggish administrative system and increasing criminal cases, the Delhi Police is not showing serious concern for improving its working style. The recent CBI raids in several police stations within the past few months have raised serious questions about the present leadership. However, senior officers believe that due to the ongoing bureaucracy, lack of credibility, and a shortage of consensus, the possibility of improving the situation is not visible.