Apparently just six. Thirty other inspectors shortlisted by Delhi police opted out of interview process

Who wants to be an SHO?

Apparently just six. Thirty other inspectors shortlisted by Delhi police opted out of interview process

Delhi Police Commissioner BK Gupta has a mystery on his hands; one that the top cop might struggle to unravel. Why are there so few takers for the coveted job of Station House Officer (SHO) in the city police's ranks? At a recent interview process held at the Police Headquarters (PHQ), only six out of the thirty six inspectors who had been shortlisted eventually turned up.

The rest chose to stay away, citing various reasons. "36 inspectors were called, out of whom twenty went over and gave it in writing that they don't want to be an SHO.

Spirits low?
It hasn't been a month since Gupta took over the reins from his predecessor YS Dadwal. And in these few days he has been trying to turn things around.

Appointing women Station House Officers in Delhi University, deploying more women on beat patrol, setting up of help desks on campus, creating a Delhi Police Facebook page - these are part of Gupta's police reforms process. The top cop has also been going out on night patrol in plain clothes to review the preparedness at various police stations.

But has he failed to inspire his cadre? Is the morale down in the ranks? Sources said that even the members of the panel at the SHO interview were so taken aback by the response that they just asked a few preliminary questions to those who had turned up and let them go.

No takers
The panel was chaired by Special Commissioner of Police (administration) Ajay Chaddha. Sources said that twenty inspectors were so clear about their position that they wrote a letter in the office itself and submitted it to the staff officer. "The panel told the staff officer not to call those who had given their reasons of opting out in writing and asked them to go after submitting the letters," sources said.

When contacted, Ajay Chaddha said: "It is a regular practice that we follow to interview inspectors and many a times quite a few cops opt out citing family and other reasons. It is their personal choice."u00a0 Chaddha also confirmed the fact that being an SHO brings both perks and responsibility.
'Absent sir!'

Speaking to MiD DAY on the condition of anonymity, an inspector said: "It is quite unusual that so many inspectors opted out. This is 90 per cent of the shortlisted candidates. There must be some reason behind this."

Another interview process is scheduled to take place on Thursday for which about the same number of inspectors have been shortlisted. Chaddha said: "We interview these inspectors to keep a pool ready in case we need some changes."u00a0u00a0

November 10
The day when BK Gupta became Delhi Police Commissioner

Whou00a0is anu00a0sho?

SHOu00a0-- Station House Officer, is the in-charge of the police station he has been posted at and is responsible to keep a tab on any crime, which takes place in his area or jurisdiction.

It is considered a handsome job in the police department as it gives power to the cop to take measures according to his will in his marked area. In fact, it is a renowned notion that inspectors sometimes go to any lengths to become an Sho.

Want to beu00a0a cop?

Recruitment of Constables (Male & Female) in Delhi Police is done by a Recruitment Board appointed by Commissioner of Police. Candidates from all parts of country are eligible for recruitment.

The vacancies are notified in the concerned Employment Exchange of Delhi and Central Employment Exchange on all India Basis. Besides, vacancies are also advertised in News Papers/Rozgar Samachar inviting application for open competition. The applicants are required to appear for Physical Examination, Written Test.

Direct Recruitment to the Ministerial Cadre is made only in the rank of Head Constable (Ministerial) and of Stenographers in the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector. Competitive examination for this purpose is held for which candidates from open competition as well as from the department are eligible. Vacancies are also advertised in News Papers/Rozgar Samachars.

For Sub-Inspectors Delhi Police places advertisements from time to time. For Assistant Commissioner of Police the entire process is conducted and carried out by the Union Public Service Commission and candidates are selected through Civil Services Examination.

'Clean up'

The 'junkyard-type' look of police stations has earned the wrath of Delhi Police chief BK Gupta who recently asked his men to clean up the facilities and remove the old vehicles lying around. The message from Gupta came after his visit to two police stations and interaction with staff of district units, traffic, security and police control room within the first ten days of his taking over charge.

"I have asked the police stations to remove junk vehicles and clean up police stations so as to give a new environment. Things need to improve drastically," Gupta said.

The 58-year-old official said the purpose of his visits was to convey to the personnel that the police stations needed a "lot of improvement". A lot of junk is seen strewn across the premises of police stations.

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