Delhi's cop wants men to shed ''chalta hai'' attitude

NEW DELHI: Quietly, away from the limelight, Delhi's new Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal is proving to be a tough taskmaster.

In just the five months he has held charge, Dadwal has made it clear that he will not tolerate the casual 'chalta hai' attitude that many of his colleagues display.

And he is leading by example.

Officers say Dadwal, 56, who superseded the popular Kiran Bedi to bag the top slot, frequently makes surprise visits to police stations and also expects his senior colleagues to do likewise.

Since no police station knows which one he will visit, everyone remains on high alert.

The 60,000-strong Delhi Police are beginning to take the man seriously.

A 1974 batch Indian Police officer, Dadwal, in his very first order, asked officers above the rank of assistant police commissioners (ACPs) not to attend any public function without their uniform -- even after duty hours.

Dadwal's decision left many senior officers baffled, forcing them to cut short their public appearances, which some had termed as mandatory social outreach.

"How can you go in uniform to a party? If we go people always try to approach us asking for personal favours," rued a senior official.

Within days after taking charge, Dalwal called a meeting of all the 128 station house officers (SHOs), district ACPs and deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) under one roof and briefed them about his way of functioning.

He handed them a 30-point list of Do's and Don'ts.
   
One officer who attended the meeting told IANS: "The commissioner asked us to register cases without delay."

He also directed constable cooks working at houses of officers of the rank of DCPs and above back to police stations.

An officer who is close to Dadwal told IANS: "The commissioner wants his officers to be disciplined to the core and act as per the norms prescribed in the rule book. He wants them to act swiftly and efficiently."

Another officer added: "According to Dadwal, self management is the mantra to success. Once he pulled up an additional commissioner for not wearing uniform. He has forced officials to drop the 'chalta hai' attitude. Now you will find every police station in the capital maintaining records, and on time."

Policemen have begun fearing disciplinary action after Dadwal began surprise visits to police stations, some coming at around 2.30 a.m.

He has also directed joint commissioners, DCPs and ACPs to pay similar surprise inspections to at least one police station daily and submit him a monthly report.

Dadwal has asked SHOs and ACPs to remove air-conditioners from their offices with a plain reason: "These officers are supposed to be dealing with public instead of enjoying luxuries."   

Till now he has suspended three officers for inefficiency.

Alarmed by the growing numbers of accidents on the city's roads, Dadwal ordered the demolition of traffic inspectors' makeshift offices on the roads, saying they needed to regulate vehicular flow.

Officials say the idea of prosecuting pedestrians flouting basic road safety rules is his brainchild.

He has threatened strict action against officers who turn hostile at trials, helping the accused to go free in the process.

Considering the popularity Kiran Bedi has enjoyed, Dadwal - some argue - has been forced to act since he has to prove that he is a worthy successor to K.K. Paul, who quit in July.

Dadwal came to Delhi Police in 1980 as an additional deputy commissioner. He has been awarded the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Services, Police Medal for Meritorious Services and Kathin Sewa Medal on four occasions.

Launching a short-duration training programme for low ranking officials involved in investigations last month, Dadwal asked them to upgrade their knowledge of law for impartial and efficient law enforcement.

"The investigators should update their knowledge of law, otherwise cases in the court will not withstand cross-examination," Dadwal said.

Delhi Police officers have also been told to update themselves about a large number of new legislation, Supreme Court rulings and directions from national and state statutory bodies relating to human rights, women, children and the Dalit and tribal communities.