After the Home Department of Jammu and Kashmir transferred 31 police officers, a former police chief criticised the decision and said that such orders should come from the Director General of Police (DGP) — not the Home Department.

The J&K Police comes under the administrative control of the J&K Home Department.

Following the transfer of 31 officers, former DGP Shesh Paul Vaid termed the move as an “attempt to weaken” Jammu and Kashmir Police’s authority, while warning that the move could be detrimental for the morale of the UT’s police force.

Jammu and Kashmir Police has been at the forefront of fighting militancy and anti-national elements in the region. The police have lost many personnel and officers in the anti-militancy operations over the years. The force has also been targeted by militants over the years and several personnel have lost lives in such attacks.

Following the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on 5 August 2019, there have been several attempts to regulate the police service in Jammu and Kashmir. One such measure was that IPS officers from outside J&K were given responsibility of heading police stations, instead of local Kashmir Police Service Officers. Besides, the responsibility of holding examinations for middle staff and lower rung constabulary was taken away from Police Headquarters.

“The order of DySP issued by Home Department instead of the DGP J&K is an attempt to weaken the authority of J&K Police Chief, Dilbag Singh & the J&K Police Department. Since inception the power to transfer DSP was with police chief. Repeated attempts by Civil administration to weaken the authority of Police Headquarters & Police Chief has a detrimental effect on the morale of rank & file J&K Police,” said Vaid, who was the J&K police chief during 2016-18.

Vaid also criticised the Lieutenant Manoj Sinha-led led administration of holding police recruitment examinations through a tainted firm.

“Earlier recruitment of Sub-Inspectors was taken away from Police HQ & given to civilian body, SSRB which not only bungled & landed in controversies of scams of a highly transparent recruitment process held once by Police HQ,” he added.

Vaid tagged Union Minister Amit Shah and Sinha on Twitter and said that Jammu and Kashmir Police “is facing an extraordinary situation for decades and nothing should be done to weaken the police department & its Chief. This need your urgent intervention”.