Facing severe criticism, particularly after the recent spate of rape cases, that suspension of erring police officers was just a coverup, the government is planning sweeping changes in the suspension norms of such policemen. Highly-placed sources said there was a growing view that the police was resorting to an “easy way out” by suspending a police officers for dereliction of duty in crimes against women, but this suspension, under current norms, was hardly an “effective punishment”.
The ministries of home, law and personnel and training are particularly against the existing system of paying at least 50 per cent of the salary of a police officer while on suspension. The government feels suspended policemen should not be paid any salary at all, more so for lapses in investigation into crimes against women. Sources say the government will soon amend police service rules to bring in new norms.
“Suspension now is hardly a punishment. The policeman gets half salary for doing nothing, and is then quietly reinstated. This must change,” a senior official told this newspaper.
The government also plans to make the norms for reinstating suspended policemen far more stringent.