199 AP police officers left without postings, pay: MP
In his letter dated July 18, he described the situation as a violation of service norms and constitutional provisions.
According to the MP, 199 police officers, including four IPS officers, have been placed in VR (Vacancy Reserve) or compulsory wait since June 2024. These officers have been attached to the DGP's office in Mangalagiri without any assigned responsibilities or payment of salaries. They are required to mark daily attendance but have not been given postings or financial support.
Dr Gurumoorthy stated that many officers are facing financial stress, having to manage housing and family expenses without allowances.
He said that some were staying in rented accommodation without House Rent Allowance and are struggling to pay for their children's education or medical needs of family members.
He pointed out that no disciplinary or legal proceedings have been initiated against these officers, and that their treatment goes against the IPS Conduct Rules and the Supreme Court's judgment in Prakash Singh vs Union of India, which protects officers from arbitrary action and promotes proper use of police personnel.
The MP also mentioned that some of the officers in compulsory wait are being used for unofficial duties such as VIP security or political events, without proper orders, allowances, or access to government vehicles. In some instances, he said they were travelling in uniform using public transport.
The MP added that officers nearing retirement are particularly affected, with delays in postings and pension contributions.
In some cases, he said, officers have been given postings only on the day of retirement after a full year without salary.
Dr Gurumoorthy requested that the Prime Minister direct the Andhra Pradesh government to reinstate the affected officers, release their pending salaries and allowances, and restore pension contributions.
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He has been in the field for over 23 years, kicking off his journalism career as a freelancer in the late nineties with bylines in The Hindu. A graduate in law, he practised in the District judiciary in Kerala for about two years before switching to journalism. His first permanent assignment was with The Press Trust of India in Delhi where he was assigned to cover the lower courts and various commissions of inquiry. He reported from the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India during his first stint with The Indian Express in 2005-2006. Currently, in his second stint with The Indian Express, he reports from the Supreme Court and writes on topics related to law and the administration of justice. Legal reporting is his forte though he has extensive experience in political and community reporting too, having spent a decade as Kerala state correspondent, The Times of India and The Telegraph. He is a stickler for facts and has several impactful stories to his credit. ... Read More
