Shahabad deputy inspector-general (DIG) Umashankar Sudhanshu has stayed the transfer orders of seven station house officers (SHOs) of Rohtas district.

Even inspector-general (Patna zone) A.K. Ambedkar is learnt to have decided to review the orders passed by Rohtas superintendent of police Chandan Kumar Kushwaha shifting 15 police officers on Sunday.

Ambedkar on Monday confirmed that the transfer of seven SHOs had been stayed by the DIG concerned and the officers asked to continue to discharge their duties at the places of their previous postings. 'I have been informed that the officers were transferred in violation of the existing rules,' he said.

Among the 15 cops transferred on Sunday, sources said, seven were posted as SHOs of Dinara, Model, Kochus, Darigawn, Karakat, Tilaothu and Chenari police stations.

The DIG told the IG that many of the SHOs transferred had not completed one year of their term at the respective police stations. The IG revealed that the SP was supposed to seek approval from the DIG concerned before issuing the transfer orders, which did not happen. 'I have sought a detailed report from the DIG,' he said, adding that such practice should be stopped.

A police officer, on condition of anonymity, revealed that DIG Sudhanshu, originally hailed from Narwar village under the jurisdiction of Kochas police station in Rohtas district, used to pester on certain officers for some 'work'.

'It is up to the top brass of the state administration to see how Sudhanshu was posted in his home district in violation of the prescribed rules,' the officer said.

The differences between the DIG and SP started over the transfer of two police officers - Pramod Kumar and Jitendra Kumar Yadav - posted as SHOs of Bhanas and Bikramganj police stations, respectively, over a month ago. The SP had ordered the two SHOs to report to the police lines following their failure to contain crime in the areas falling under their jurisdiction.

This is not the first time when a DIG has intervened into the transfer of the SHOs.

Earlier, DIG (Champaran) Gopal Prasad had objected to the transfer of three SHOs in East Champaran district and asked them to reinstate, which the SP refused. The then SP of East Champaran, Sudhir Kumar, had shifted the SHOs of Raxaul, Banjaria and Sagauli police stations on administrative grounds.

One of the SHOs, Dayanand Jha, later moved Patna High Court against his transfer order. The high court not only cancelled the district order issued by the SP concerned but also asked the latter to reinstate Jha as SHO of Raxaul police station from where he was shifted within a fixed term of one year.

Similar cases were also reported from Patna central range, when Manu Maharaaj happened to be the senior superintendent of police of Patna. 'A new trend has emerged in the state where DIGs are directly intervening into day-to-day affairs in the districts,' another police officer said.

Citing the relevant sections of the Bihar Police Act, 2007, IG Ambedkar said the approval of the DIG concerned was mandatory for the transfer of the SHOs within one year.

A senior police officer said promotee officers were holding the post of the DIGs in 10 out of the 11 police ranges. The officer attributed the reason to shortage of direct recruited IPS officers in the DIG rank.