Experts question Maya’s failed experiments with policing

Mayawati’s experiments with policing began in February 2009 when she abolished the then existing eight police zones across the state,each headed by an IG. She decided to have a separate SSP for law and order in select districts. A beginning was made in Lucknow,but the practice was abandoned without any reason. Then,the government took a decision to divide the state in two parts and give the responsibility of each one to an additional DG rank officer. This practice too was abandoned within months,and the government went back to one ADG (Law and Order).

In February 2011,the government created a new post of ADG for better policing in the districts falling in the National Capital Region.

According to officials,the changes made in the past were often whimsical,or made to create high-profile posts to favour certain people. Otherwise,there is no reason for adopting a practice and then abandoning it within months. Said former DGP K L Gupta: “The government must realise that the UP Police is world’s largest single police force. But the changes look like knee-jerk reactions,introduced without much thought. UP is a big state and the DGP needs proper assistance to run the police administration. Instead of doing further experiments,the government should immediately revive the old zonal system.”

R K Pandit,another retired DGP,said the government’s decisions to introduce changes in the past achieved nothing because these were made in haste. “How would an ADG-rank officer,who already heads a department,would handle one of the new zones? No one would listen to him,’’ Pandit said.

Police officers find some of the CM’s ideas,which she articulated at the meeting of DMs,SSP and senior officer on Monday,quite amusing.

“She asked station officers across the state to provide counselling to those who are considered bad characters. Does the police have the training and jurisdiction to do this? If the Chief Minister wishes so,she can make amendments in the Code of Criminal Procedure to enable station officers to get proper training to become professional counsellers,” remarked an ADG-rank officer.

Most officials believe that the government’s decision to abolish the posts of zonal IGs,which was a time-tested system,has now backfired. “This removed an important stage in the system of monitoring and supervision. Common people have lost one important forum in the field to lodge complaints. The DGP lost one important point for the collection of feedback,’’ summed up an officer.