Karnataka: Policemen plan to apply for leave en masse on June 4; state govt on tenterhooks

The proposed plan of Karnataka police to apply for leave on June 4 has made the state government leave no stone unturned to reach out the policemen. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah convened a meeting with top police officers on Tuesday evening to discuss the demands of policemen that include poor salary, harassment by senior officers in the name of discipline, improper leave structure and other issues. Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara had also appealed to the policemen to not to go ahead with their plan of applying leave en masse on June 4 since it is against the police manual. The police department had also issued advertisements in the media highlighting the welfare schemes implemented for policemen. The Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasabha had advised the policemen to abstain from duty by applying leave on June 4 in support of their demands that were pending for a quite long time. It is believed that a large number of policemen have applied for leave on June 4. The plan to go on mass leave will be the first of its kind in the state. Directive to doctors To prevent policemen applying a medical leave, the director, health and family welfare, Bidar district, on May 28 (No. CR-08/2016-17) directed doctors working at district, taluk and primary health centres not to issue medical certificates and recommend medical leave for policemen. “The state government has been trying to prevent the policemen to go on leave. All the doctors at government hospitals have been directed not to issue medical certificates recommending leave to policemen. It is against the fundamental rights of policemen,’’ said V Shashidhar president, Akhila Karnataka Police Mahasabha. Retired police officers’ appeal The members of Karnataka State Retired Police Officers’ Welfare Association on Tuesday appealed the policemen to not to go ahead with their plan of applying leave on June 4 since it would affect the law and order in the state. “We are not against their demands. We support their demands but not their plan of applying leave en masse on June 4. Remaining absent from duty without permission will attract a disciplinary action. We want the policemen not to be misguided by outsiders. We will meet the Director General and Inspector General Police (DG&IGP) Om Prakash to discuss about the genuine demands of policemen,’’ said PM Pemmiah, president, Karnataka State Retired Police Officers’ Welfare Association. AAP’s appeal Aam Aadmi Party, Karnataka, on Tuesday, demanded that the state government consider the genuine demands policemen and chalk out a time-bound plan to meet them. The AAP Karnataka leaders have appealed the policemen not to go ahead with the plan of applying leave en masse on June 4. “Salary of policemen in Karnataka is less than the neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala. We want the state government to increase the salary of policemen in Karantaka,’’ Prithvi Reddy, state convener & national executive member, Aam Aadmi Party, Karnataka. In his circular the DGP, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare department  termed the call for a strike illegal and blamed some anti-social elements for instigating the constables for the same. He also cited the example of the then Mumbai Police Commissioner dismissing all constables who went on a strike in 1982 from the service without any inquiry. Following in their counterparts across the state, a formal mass leave application was submitted by Bhatkal Rural Police station staff to their PSI