Two ADGPs for law and order; committee of ADGPs makes recommendation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A committee of Additional Directors General of Police (ADGPs) has recommended a major overhaul of the law and order structure in the state. The committee has suggested that the responsibility of law and order be divided between two ADGPs, one for the southern range and one for the northern range, with their headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode respectively.

This recommendation comes after the previous system, where a single ADGP was in charge of law and order, led to a concentration of power and lapses in supervision and coordination. Previously, Anil Kant and Vijay Sakhare held this responsibility before MR Ajit Kumar. The committee found that the ADGP with law and order responsibility became like a 'Super DGP', resulting in districts becoming the fiefdoms of SPs.

The system of multiple levels of supervision from Inspector to ADGP was dismantled. Each of the four police districts had a Range DIG, and above them, Zonal IGs, and above that, ADGPs for Northern and Southern Ranges. This system was dismantled, and IGs were appointed as Commissioners in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode. DIGs were appointed in ranges. Zonal IGs were stripped of control over cities.

SIs made in charge of stations
The committee recommended that the charge of 210 police stations in Category C, which have less than 500 cases per year, be handed over to Sub-Inspectors (SIs). Currently, officers who have been SIs for ten years and then promoted to Inspectors are doing the work of SIs at the stations. Albeit two or three Sub-Inspectors (SIs) are present in the stations, they have only trivial responsibilities. Earlier, two stations were under the supervision of a Circle Inspector (CI). After the CI post was abolished, the functioning of the stations became lethargic. Although nine stations have a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP), their supervision is only nominal.