Constable Writes to Commissioner About Work Hours, Corruption

A constable has written a letter to Delhi PC Verma, exposing exploitation by SHO, long work hours and corruption.

Police outside the NIT campus. (Photo: PTI)

A constable has come forward, albeit anonymously, and written a letter to Police Commissioner Alok Verma, detailing the arduous, unfair and exploitative working conditions of the lower ranks of the Indian Police. This one-page letter requests Verma to spare some points, while he drew “some points for the betterment of the Indian Police,” including better work hours, fair promotions, corruption, and exploitation by the Station House Officer (SHO).

Promotions

The constable explains how he has been serving the Delhi Police with honesty and no “punishment” on the same post for over 25 years; while his colleagues in other cadres have risen the ranks to Sub-Inspectors (SI). He further asks if it is not their right to ask for these promotions; if yes, then why does the “department ask to go to the court?”

He raises another strong point to the same end, highlighting the lax functioning of his cadre, when he asks: “When you are giving us money after 10 years, then why [are you] hesitating in promotions?” The ages to apply for higher posts like Head Constable (HC) and SI has been reduced to 30 from 40, as well, the constable notes. This, without the age relaxation available in other cadres in the country, begs the question why the seniors are “against the lower subordinates.”

Long Working Hours, Exploitation by the SHO

Almost pleading to Verma, the constable begs him to fix the working hours at the Police Station to some standard, to curb corruption and “dictators.” Pointing to the disenchantment the work culture is creating among the new generations of police constables, he appeals to Verma to “fix something; 8 hours, 10, 12 hours, 24 hours...fix something.” Alleging that the SHO manipulates and terrifies the lower ranks in the name of long working hours, he, on behalf of his colleagues, refuse to “work as a puppet in the hands of [the] SHO.”

An excerpt from the letter. 

The constable makes a strong point when he ends by saying that long hours in the police station under negative duress only lead to corruption, frustration, drunkenness and “other evils” among the policemen.

He asks for stricter punishment for corruption, and lastly, a directive to all officers to, at the very least, deal with the likes of him with some respect.

Senior IPS officer, Alok Kumar Verma, took charge as Commissioner of Delhi Police last month and stressed the importance of better working conditions for the lower ranks of the police; 60% of the force is below the rank of Inspector.