Explained: How scrapping of police naik post in Maharashtra will benefit 45,000 constables

The Maharashtra government has scrapped the position of Police Naik. Why was the decision made and what impact will it have on the over two lakh strong force?

The decision will have an impact on the nearly 45,000 constables in the state police force | file

The Maharashtra government on Friday announced that they have scrapped the position of Police Naik. Why was the decision made and what impact will it have on the over two lakh strong force?

What was the decision announced by the Maharashtra government regarding police ranks in the state?

The Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil tweeted that a proposal sent by the Maharashtra DGP Sanjay Pandey to scrap the most of Police Naik (PN) was approved in a meeting on Thursday. The decision will impact nearly 45000 constables in the state police force.

How does scrapping of the Police Naik post benefit the constabulary?

Until this decision, a police constable (PC) would get promoted to Police Naik (PN) after 10 years of service and later in another 10 years move to the Head Constable (HC) rank, and retire as Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASI) – one star officers – after around 30 plus years of service.

The decision to scrap the post of PN will ensure that every Constable (PC) who joins the force has the opportunity to retire at least as a Police Sub Inspector (PSI) – a two star officer – in the force. A PC could be promoted to ASI within 20 years, leaving enough time before retirement to be posted as SI.

Retiring as PSI will mean a higher pension as compared to retirement as ASI apart from having more powers like investigating cases.

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The decision will impact around 45000 personnel of the Maharashtra police Constabulary.

How will promotions be made? Are they done on the basis of internal examinations?

Under the new system, the earlier requirement that an ASI needs to pass an internal examination to become SI been scrapped. All promotions will be done based on length of service and merit.

What impact will the decision have on the working of the police force?

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The change will bring in younger head constables. This will result in a 3-fold increase in the investigating force, as head constables, unlike Naiks, have investigating powers. It will also mean younger investigators.

Have there been any other changes proposed in the structure of the force?

The DGP office is in the process of sending another proposal suggesting that the rank of Assistant Police Inspector (ASI) should be scrapped too. That would enable a PSI to go from Police Inspector to ACP and eventually retire at Superintendent of Police (SP) rank. This proposal too should be soon sent to the Home Department seeking their approval.

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Mohamed Thaver

Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems. Experience & Authority Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field. Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus. Key Beats: Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch. Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force. Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict. Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations. Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed. Credentials & Trustworthiness Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order. He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... Read More