Chief Secy orders DMs to chair L&O meetings; IPS Association irked

Sharib Jafri

Lucknow: In a fresh directive, Chief Secretary Rajive Kumar has ordered that from here on the monthly law and order meetings across the state will be chaired by District Magistrates. The decision has largely offended the IPS Association which has called for a meeting on Tuesday.

"In the wake of setting accountability, now the monthly law and order and crime meetings will be chaired by DMs of the respective districts," said the Chief Secretary on Monday, adding, "The SSP/SP will have to be present in the monthly meeting."

"The posting of Kotwals and Station House Officers (SHOs) will also be done with the DM’s consent," he further said.

Also Read: ‘UP Investors’ Summit 2018’: Yogi rolls out red carpet for investors

Earlier, these meetings used to be chaired by Superintendent of Police (SP) or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) rank officers. Among the attendees used to be SHOs, Additional Superintendent of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police officers.

The decision has irked the IPS Association which is condemning the decision on its official WhatsApp group, said a highly-placed source on condition of anonymity. The meeting has been called by IPS Association Chairman Praveen Singh on request of some police officers of the state.

The fresh circular might have offended the IPS officers but the accountability of the law and order has always been of DMs. The order of DM-headed monthly meetings was also passed in the past, but has never been followed.