Extend tenure of jawans working in SRPF to 15 years: Maharashtra DGP

A recent proposal sent from the office of the Maharashtra Director General of Police to the state home department has drawn anger from the policemen working in the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF).

 

Those working in the SRPF had to serve a minimum of ten years in the department before getting a posting in any police station in the state, but the proposal sent by the state police says that the period should now be increased to 15 years.

These policemen are pushed to service at the time of rioting, public or political rallies and emergency situations to maintain law and order. Even in the naxalite affected areas, the responsibility of bandobast is on the SRPF.

Around 10,000 policemen who are trained to use advanced weapons are working in the SRPF across the state.

“Due to their nature of work, they remain away from their families for months. If there is an emergency situation, then jawans from SRPF are posted for months until the crisis is over. Since they are directly selected in the SRPF, they have to serve a minimum of ten years, before they can apply for a transfer or posting at police stations,” said a police officer.

Every year around 10 per cent policemen from SRPF get transferred to the state police. This has resulted in vacancies in the SRPF. Hence, the DGP office has sent a proposal to the government saying the minimum serving tenure should be increased from 10 years to 15 years, sources said.

“But the reality is that the process of getting a posting after serving ten years is so slow that it takes another four years to get posted elsewhere across the state and if the tenure is increased to 15 years, then the process will delay further. We will meet the authorities and request them to consider our plight before sanctioning this proposal,” said a constable working with the SRPF, requesting anonymity.