Karnataka police’s medical problems vanish after threat of ‘golden handshake’

It is not unusual for junior police personnel working with the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) to seek transfers to plum postings, citing health reasons. These requests are usually to units attached to Bengaluru’s Central Business District (CBD), Things, however, came to a head when senior officials realised that 70% of the personnel who had sought transfers in recent months had given reasons ranging from diabetes and back pain to sinus problems and high blood pressure (BP).

Taking serious note of the spurt in applications, Bhaskar Rao, Additional Director General of Police (KSRP), issued a circular on November 19, stating that personnel applying for transfers without valid reasons would be forced to take compulsory retirement. This was enforceable under Rule 285 of the KSRP.

“Backaches are something that most of us suffer from. Also, diabetes cannot be a reason for seeking a transfer. Such transfer requests are considered only if the person is suffering from a serious health problem and after he can show how the new posting would help address his problem,” Mr. Rao said. “The reserve police force is a highly disciplined outfit, on a par with the Army. I cannot run it with sick people. We need to be fit and fine to defend the State, and candidates here are not recruited on compassionate grounds.”

Though it’s early days, senior officials said they had received a flurry of requests from junior personnel seeking to withdraw their transfer applications. Police constables as young as 25 had applied for a posting on medical grounds.

A majority of the recruits are eyeing postings in the CBD area for purely monetary reasons, said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.

As the city police force is facing an acute shortage of manpower, the Home Department had decided to use the KSRP to fill vacant posts at police stations on an ad hoc basis.

“Some units of the KSRP personnel get postings at police stations that are lucrative. Such postings offer opportunities and benefits, and everyone wants a piece of the pie. This move will help us clamp down on corruption,” the official added.

While the circular has caused much consternation in the force, Mr. Rao defended his decision. “We are not penalising anyone. It’s like a ‘golden handshake’ to relieve sick personnel who can not perform their duties for which they had received training. We can fill those posts with deserving candidates,” he said.