Facing crunch, Delhi Police seek more IPS officers

Faced with a shortage of officers, especially with the Commonwealth Games round the corner, Delhi Police have written to the Union Home Ministry to depute more IPS officers to the force.

The request is under consideration by the Ministry which shares Delhi Police chief Y S Dadwal’s “concern” regarding shortage of Indian Police Services (IPS) officers here, sources said. They said Delhi Police made the request to the Ministry considering the upcoming mega sport event -- Commonwealth Games -- and the complexity in dealing with law and order in the city. Senior IPS officers working on deputation with central security agencies like Intelligence Bureau and Central Bureau of Investigation are also likely to be called back if the proposal gets the nod from the Ministry, they said. Mr. Dadwal has asked the Ministry to give approval to its request and post maximum IPS officers of AGMU (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre for 45 days during the Commonwealth Games scheduled here between October 3 and October 14.

Currently, about 50 IPS officers from the level of Assistant Commissioners of Police to Special Commissioners of Police are working with different departments of Delhi Police. The total cadre strength in Delhi includes 21 posts at the level of Superintendent of Police (SP), 10 Deputy Inspector General (DIG), 14 Inspector General (IG), three Additional Director General (ADG) and two Director General (DG) of police level.

However, the sanctioned strength are almost filled up in the Capital. “There is shortage of IPS officers to manage law and order situation here. This may lead to some sort of mismanagement in maintaining law and order related duties,” the sources said.

Mr. Dadwal has expressed his concern about insufficient number of such police officers especially when the country is organising its maiden and biggest sporting event. When contacted, a senior Home Ministry official said the letter has been received and is under consideration.