Something is seriously amiss between the Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and the Maharashtra government. The undercurrent of pent-up anger against the government, especially home minister RR Patil, is simmering, and in a move unprecedented in the history of the state police, the IPS Officers Association has passed a resolution expressing its profound anguish and deep hurt at the government's apathy towards them.
In the resolution, passed in the last week of January, IPS officers have expressed their anger and anguish at the way they have been neglected by the government.
According to sources, at least four letters were sent to Patil requesting him to meet police officers. Patil, however, refused saying all that they would talk was about promotions, transfers and postings.
"Patil asked the officers to change the content of the request letter. He asked them to mention that they wished to meet him to discuss broader issues. Changes were made accordingly, but even after that, he did not meet them," a senior officer said.
At the IPS Officers' Association meeting in Nashik last month, the anger within the force spilled over and there were heated discussions regarding the way IPS officers were being treated.
"Such is our situation that the home minister, who is our boss, has not been able to spare even five minutes in three months to listen to our grievances," lamented an officer.
"Middle level officers are especially angry and are fast losing faith in the government," says the resolution.
"Coincidentally, all the officers who had been vocal against Patil at the meeting, were given non-executive/insignificant postings last week," observed an officer who was present at the meeting.
After almost a year, the government promoted or transferred IPS officers across the state a few days back. Senior officers were kept in waiting for six to eight months, while several others were not promoted for almost a year.
"It took the government almost 15 days to appoint a new Mumbai police commissioner. It only indicates that there is no respect for IPS officers in this state," said another senior IPS officer.
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