Newly-appointed police commissioner Satyapal Singh on Wednesday scrapped another rule changed by his predecessor Arup Patnaik, by doing away with the senior policeman’s rule regarding police cover to civic officials during demolition of illegal structures in the city.
Dr Singh passed an order that civic officials wishing to undertake demolition drives in the city would now have to approach zonal deputy commissioner of police for a bandobast, instead of approaching the joint commissioner of police, law and order.
Approaching zonal DCPs for police cover had always been the default rule before Mr Patnaik became the police commissioner. However, in June this year, the former police chief issued a circular saying that such demolition drives should not be entertained at the cost of law and order problems in the city.
“During such drives, the possibility of resistance from the affected parties coupled with backing from various NGOs and other political/social organisations, can create serious law and order problems, unless police arrangement is planned well in advance. In view of this, the concerned agency should provide full details of the drive 72 hours in advance to the police. The permission will only be granted after the details are scrutinised by joint commissioner (law and order),” the circular had said.
When contacted, police spokesperson DCP Nisar Tamboli said that the change had only been made so that such delegation of authority could help save time taken to sanction manpower for security.