‘Commissioners’ powers cut to ensure transfer rules are followed’

Home Minister RR Patil said on Tuesday that the decision to take away police commissioners’ powers to effect transfer of lower ranking policemen was taken with a view to ensuring that the rules regarding transfers are followed. “I am not benefiting from this decision,” said Patil,reacting to criticism regarding political interference in transfers of junior policemen. He added that while he would make recommendations,it would be Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan who would take the final decision in each case.

While transfers are normally effected in the April-May period,cases have been emerging routinely of officers being transferred on the day of their retirement,before completing even a year at their post or other irregular transfers. Stating that these instances — many of which end up in the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal — caused the government to be embarrassed,Patil said there was a need to put an end to these practices. He added that it had been his own decision in 2006 to devolve the powers to transfer junior policemen.

A committee under Industries Minister Narayan Rane — which is studying the rulebook regarding transfers — will soon send its recommendations to the state Cabinet to find a long-term solution to the problem.