Tackling corruption in senior ranks

Some inspectors complain about the wife of a very senior IPS officer who phones and threatens to get them transferred if they do not cater to her demands! This same lady has cultivated intermediaries in the police force and their names are mentioned by the rank and file. But the inspectors decline to tape her conversations with them because they do not expect support from the political bosses. This is a sad commentary on the state of affairs in a department which is so intimately concerned with the lives and property of the citizens.

The State Government and the police hierarchy is well aware of the status of corruption in the senior ranks. Some IPS officers are quite notorious. One Joint Commissioenr used to demand Rs. 50,000 as ‘Nazrana’ every time he visited a police station! When a senior officer visits a police station, the inspectors and constables take special measures to keep their papers, their uniforms, and the police station in order. But in this officer’s case the only activity noticed was of policemen visiting the anti-social elements for a special collection to pay off the Joint Commissioner. Imagine the state of policing and the attitudes of the officers at the junior levels to the general public in such an atmosphere of laxity.

It is not enough for the state government to order the additional commissioner to proceed on leave. He should have been placed under suspension if the government had any intention of demonstrating its intolerance of corruption. Mr Vittal, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, has been demanding this simple and necessary step in all cases made out against IAS and IPS officers. That he has not been successful in his efforts only shows the indifferences of the authorities to the disease of corruption. When officers know that they can get off easily there is no deterrence. More than 70 per cent of officers who indulge in corruption would opt for the straight path if they knew that they would be punished or at least denied promotions. Since the corrupt are treated as well or perhaps even better than the honest ones, there is no premium on honesty in service.

It is reported that the state government has asked Subhash Malhotra, director general of police (DGP) of the state, to conduct an inquiry into the allegation against Additional Commissioner A K Jain. When the ACB which is the competent authority, is investigating the case and when the Bureau is headed by an officer of impeccable integrity and of the same seniority as the DGP, it is surprising, to say the least, that the government has thought fit to order another concurrent inquiry. It introduces an element of doubt into the Government’s intentions.

Recently many senior officers have been inducted into the city police despite their uncertain reputations. Every junior official in the police force knows which of his seniors is an extortionist or is corrupt. They spread the word around and the reputation of the officers precedes them to their places of posting. It is a tragedy that many senior officers are being spoken of in most uncomplimentary terms by the lower ranks including the constabulary. In one zone where all illegal activities had been curbed by a good DCP, such activities revived after he was transferred. Even junior officers have been complaining that his replacement makes exhorbitant demands and they are very unhappy with him. Now that a senior IPS officer is facing scrutiny it is hoped that some sense will be knocked into other such officers who are disgracing their service.