Cops told not to dash off letters to Lieutenant-Governor, HoDs

After reports that Delhi police officers have been directly addressing letters to lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung and other departmental heads of the AAP government, city police commissioner Alok Kumar Verma has ordered that any future communication should be routed through the lieutenant-governor’s OSD and the same should be signed by an officer of the rank of joint commissioner and above. The new directions by the top cop also instruct police officers to not send any letter to any department other than the principal secretary (home).

A slew of other decisions, taken at a recent high-level meeting, also include auditing of the organisations welfare funds on a regular basis by additional commissioner of the economic offences wing. Mr Verma directed his officers to ensure that those entrusted with duty on their respective beats should be available in their areas and they should also do regular foot patrolling. He also ordered the district and traffic police and PCR staff to take strong and prompt action against beggars and hawkers on crossroads. He asked his officers to coordinate with the social welfare department for an effective check on beggars and hawkers at city’s crossings and intersections. The crime branch was also directed to keep an eye on those who were operating begging gangs in the city.

Expressing serious concern over street-crime and car-jacking incidents, Mr Verma directed his staff to take strong measures to prevent such incidents. He also urged his officers to conduct surprise checks of picket staff and the ones posted with the traffic wing on a regular basis.

On the question of deployment of executive staff in offices, the police chief ordered his officers to conduct a manpower audit and withdraw excess staff with immediate effect. He directed his officers to send a report in this regard to the police headquarters latest by June 30.

The high-level meeting also discussed the CAG report that had given adverse remarks about e-challan system of the traffic police. The police chief told the special commissioner (traffic) to make a request to the CAG for a copy of the report.

Mr Verma was also all praise for the DCPs and SHOs for organising various welfare activities in their respective districts. He said that senior officers and their spouses should coordinate welfare activities in police colonies with the help of the Delhi Police Welfare Society. He said yoga and dancing classes should be organised in police colonies and choreographers should be hired for these activities.