In a scathing indictment of the Yogi Adityanath’s brazen attempt to overrule a Supreme Court directive on appointment of lower-level police officers, the Indian Police Services Association on Thursday requested the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office to withdraw the order it passed on Thursday mandating the approval of District Magistrate before posting Station House Officers (SHOs).
The Uttar Pradesh government’s order makes it is mandatory for the Senior Superintendent of Police or the Superintendent of Police to take approval of the District Magistrates before posting a Station House Officers (SHO).
Request @CMOfficeUP to withdraw the order requiring approval of DMs before posting SHOs. Order is in conflict with law laid down by Hon'ble Supreme Court and High Court. It displays distrust in the police leadership and will demoralise SPs. @PMOIndia@HMOIndia
— IPS Association (@IPS_Association) May 10, 2018
The move is being seen as an attempt to ensure that only those officers who subscribe to the reckless crime-control measures adopted by Adityanath after he assumed office last year, be appointed as Station House Officers, the police’s interface with the common man.
At least 50 people have died in “encounter killings” launched by the UP police since Adityanath assumed office in March 2017.
Contending that the move demoralises senior officers, the IPS Association came down hard on the Adityanath government on Twitter on Thursday. The association noted that the order was in conflict with the law laid down by the Supreme Court and High Court. “It displays distrust in the police leadership and will demoralise SPs,” the IPS Association said. Besides, UP CM Office, the Associaton also tagged Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Home Minister’s Office (HMO) in the tweet.