The Centre has asked states to give more operational and financial autonomy to Directors General of Police to acquire logistics and have a larger say in administrative matters, Home Ministry officials said on Monday.
The fresh directive comes close on the heels of Home Minister P Chidambaram’s remarks that officers of state police forces are kicked around like a football.
In a communique to the Chief Secretaries, the Home Ministry has asked state governments to delegate more power to the DGPs to handle the day-to-day affairs of their respective police force, they said.
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The Ministry asked the states to constitute a Police Establishment Board that would decide on transfers and postings, as early as possible.
It also asked the state governments to revamp their recruitment procedures and make them quick, time bound and transparent.
The Ministry asked the state governments to allocate funds for police to acquire adequate resources which would help maintain law and order and deal with other challenges.
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On September 15, at the conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police, Mr. Chidambaram had said that the state governments continue with old mindset and habits as far as working of police is concerned.