Mangaluru: Families of police personnel in Mangaluru have raised serious concerns over delays in implementing transfer orders, alleging that several officers have not been relieved from duty even three months after official orders were issued.
The issue came to the fore when family members met State Director General of Police Dr. M.A. Saleem during his visit to the city for a Western Range police officers’ meeting on Tuesday. They submitted a formal complaint and expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as an unjustified delay.
Families cite hardship and demand action
According to the families, many police personnel who have completed nearly 10 years of service were issued transfer orders but continue to remain posted in Mangaluru. They claimed that despite repeated requests, the orders have not been implemented.
The families highlighted multiple personal challenges arising from the delay. These include health-related issues, responsibilities of caring for elderly parents in their native places, and disruptions to their children’s education, including school and college admissions.
They urged the DGP to ensure that the transfers are executed without further delay. Some family members also warned that they may be compelled to stage protests if their grievances are not addressed promptly.
DGP assures phased implementation
Responding to the concerns, Dr. M. A. Saleem acknowledged that the department has received numerous requests for transfers, particularly from personnel hailing from North Karnataka.
He stated that the matter was discussed in detail during a progress review meeting and assured that necessary steps would be taken to implement the transfers in phases. His response offered some reassurance, though no specific timeline was announced.
Commissioner explains staffing constraints
Providing clarification on the delay, Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H cited staff shortages and government regulations as key reasons.
He explained that the sanctioned strength of the Mangaluru City Police stands at 801 personnel, but only 685 are currently in service. This leaves 116 constable posts vacant, amounting to a vacancy rate of 14.4%.
If 63 transferred civil police constables are relieved immediately, the vacancy rate would increase to 22.1%, exceeding the permissible limit of 15% under government rules. “Under such circumstances, it is not feasible to relieve all transferred personnel at once,” he said.
Balancing duty and welfare
The Commissioner further noted that the police department is responsible for a wide range of duties, including traffic management, maintaining law and order, bandobast arrangements, crime prevention and investigation, and community policing through beat meetings.
He emphasised that maintaining adequate manpower is essential to ensure the city remains peaceful and secure. At the same time, he acknowledged the genuine concerns raised by the affected personnel and their families.
He also pointed out that some personnel had even foregone promotions in order to secure inter-district transfers, underlining the seriousness of their requests.
Leave policies and administrative response
Addressing additional concerns, the Commissioner clarified that no applications for earned leave (EL) had been rejected during his tenure, suggesting that the department has tried to remain sensitive to individual needs wherever possible.
However, he reiterated that administrative decisions must strike a balance between employee welfare and operational requirements, especially in a city with growing policing demands.
Conclusion
The delay in relieving transferred police personnel in Mangaluru has brought to light the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in managing workforce shortages while addressing individual needs.
While the assurance from the DGP to implement transfers in phases provides some hope, the issue underscores the need for systemic solutions, including filling vacant posts and streamlining transfer processes.
For now, affected families await concrete action, even as authorities work to balance institutional responsibilities with humanitarian concerns.