Home Minister P Chidambaram today said state governments continued with old mindsets and habits as far as working of police is concerned and regretted that officers of the force have been reduced to football to be kicked here and there.
Addressing a conference of state police chiefs here, the Home Minister said state governments are continuing with "old mindset and old habits" as far as working of state police force was concerned.
"I still find old mindsets and old habits persist... failure of many state governments to constitute a Police Establishment Board that would decide on transfers and postings. It is a matter of deep regret that many police officers have been reduced to a football, to be kicked here and there," he said inaugurating the three-day meet.
"State governments are unwilling - or unable - to revamp their recruitment procedures and make them quick, time bound and transparent," he said, adding such a recruitment procedure had been introduced in the Central Paramilitary Forces based on technology, objective assessment and transparency.
The Home Minister questioned the Director Generals of Police over their silence in arbitrary postings made by the respective state governments.
"I ask you to search your hearts and answer the question, what is the average length of tenure of a District Superintendent of Police? What is the average length of tenure of a Station House Officer?"
"Why do you remain silent when arbitrary postings are made by the state government? Is it not your duty on behalf of your officers but also on behalf of the people that your are duty bound to protect?" Chidambaram asked.
The Home Minister expressed concern over the attitude of some state governments in allocating funds for police.
"Given the Constitutional responsibility, state governments must provide adequate funds for the State Police. In fact, security of the state must be the first charge on the state exchequer. However, I find that many states take the exact opposite route and allot only the residue - after providing for other Plan and Non-Plan Scheme - to Police," Chidambaram said.
He asked the state governments to change this practice with effect from the 2010-11 Budget.
