UP violating GO for SC/ST station officers

A Lucknow based NGO complained that the UP Govt. is not implementing a GO stipulating 20 per cent of Police station officers should be from SC/ST categories. A file photo of Sungari Police station in UP.

The Uttar Pradesh government is flouting an order that makes it mandatory to have one out of five Station Officers in each district from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes categories, Lucknow based social activist Nutan Thakur said on Saturday.

"A June 2, 2002 government order clearly mentions that 20 percent of all Station Officers in each district should be from the SC/ST," Dr. Thakur said, adding that the representation of SC station officers was low.

In Lucknow Range there are only 12 SC/ST station officers out of a total of 152 police stations, she pointed out.

In Lucknow district, the figure was one out of 43, in Khiri one out of 23, in Sitapur 2 out of 26, in Hardoi three out of 25, in Raebareli two out of 16 and in Unnao three out of 19.

Pointing out that a similar situation existed throughout the State, Dr. Thakur has written to the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes P.L Punia seeking action against the Superintendents of Police who violate the GO. She also sought directions for the Principal Secretary (Home) and State DGP to immediately ensure its compliance.

This article has been corrected for a factual error.