'Indiscipline': Constable turns up in jeans for meet, 3 cops face heat in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: Three policemen in Shahdol range were suspended after they failed to submit mandatory reports on time, with a dress code violation also cited after a policeman appeared in jeans before a senior officer.

The action was taken by IG Shahdol range Chaitra N after it emerged that crucial information regarding inspections and meetings conducted by deputy superintendents of police was not submitted by officials from Shahdol, Umaria and Anuppur districts despite repeated reviews. The information was sought by the police headquarters in April last year, but was neither placed before the IG nor presented for review till recently.

Taking serious note of the lapse, the IG summoned the concerned personnel on March 16 for an explanation.

During the proceedings, a head constable appeared before the senior officer wearing jeans instead of the prescribed uniform, an act that was flagged as indiscipline and recorded in the suspension order alongside the primary charge of negligence. He was suspended for the lapse.

Detailed probe ordered to fix responsibilities
Officials said the reader branch was also responsible for compiling and submitting the required data for Feb and Mar but failed to do so within the stipulated time.
The omission was considered a significant procedural lapse, given the importance of monitoring field-level inspections and administrative reviews and an ASI and another head constable from Shahdol and Umaria were suspended.

They were sent back to their parent units and attached to reserve centres pending further action. During the suspension period, they were entitled to subsistence allowance as per rules.

A detailed probe was ordered to ascertain individual responsibilities and any wider lapses in the reporting mechanism. "I have been asked to conduct a probe and submit a detailed report over the entire issue," sub-divisional officer of police, Dhanpuri, Vikas Pandey told TOI.

Despite attempts, IG Shahdol could not be contacted for comment.