Office of director-general of police in Patna. Telegraph picture

Patna, Oct. 10: The state government has brought IPS officers at the district level under the scope of their IAS counterparts, much to the chagrin of superintendents of police (SPs).

Ever since the new order was issued on September 19, the SPs are supposed to seek permission from district magistrates (DMs) before leaving the (district) headquarters for either official work or leave. Besides, if an SP has to lead any major operation or ambush, he/she has to seek permission from the DMs.

The new directive, issued by former chief secretary Anup Mukherjee who retired on September 30, has not gone down well with the IPS officers in the districts. An IPS officer posted in a north Bihar district said, on condition of anonymity, that officers like him would either have to look for central deputation or quit following the recent development.

In the past, the SPs used to seek permission from the deputy inspectors general of police (DIGs) of respective police ranges for leave. The DIGs, in turn, used to forward the requests to the DGP’s office for approval. “The new order will allow the DMs to directly interfere in day-to-day functioning of the police. It also violates the police manual,” an IPS officer said.

According to the police manual, the officer added, a district magistrate happens to be the overall in-charge of law and order in a district. “At the same time, the manual prohibits the DMs from directly interfering in the day-to-day affairs of the police,” he said.

When contacted, director-general of police Abhayanand claimed ignorance about the letter issued by Mukherjee. “I have no idea about any such letter,” he said, adding that he would comment only after going through the letter.

Abhayanand, however, said there were certain provisions in the police manual and the police functioned on the basis of these clauses. The DMs will approve leaves of the police officers at the district level,” he added.

Referring to the guidelines set by the former chief secretary, the DMs have sent letters to all SPs asking them to provide files seeking prior permission for leaving the district headquarters or proceeding on a leave. The fresh directive also hinted at possible interference of the DMs in the transfer and postings of the police officers. The order made it clear that the DMs could do so with the consent of the heads of the department concerned.

Office bearers of the IPS Officers’ Association in the state are not willing to say anything on the controversy. “It’s better you talk to the DGP,” a senior IPS officer and office bearer of the association told The Telegraph.

On the other hand, a senior IAS officer posted at the secretariat said: “This system was prevalent in Bihar in the ’70s. The DMs used to write the annual confidential reports of the SPs and also approve their leaves. There is nothing new in the recent directive. In fact, the DMs have now been relieved of certain responsibilities. They can now concentrate on development and welfare projects in the districts.”