Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has to create at least 760 new posts of drivers in the police force on a priority basis, a new report said, as the existing drivers are overburdened with work.
The officers often carry out their duties even skipping sleep, revealed the report.
A study panel of the personnel and administrative reforms department had been directed by the government to examine whether Kerala police needed another 760 drivers.
In its report, the panel said there should be 1,235 more posts of drivers and 760 posts had to be created immediately.
Back in 2017, the then director general of police (DGP) had sought 1,160 driver posts in the force, based on which the government sanctioned 400 posts. Recently, the DGP requested the government to create the remaining 760 vacancies, following which the latter appointed the panel to study whether such a requirement existed.
The panel’s recommendation to the government said each patrolling vehicle needs three officers. If the station only owns a vehicle then the number of people required is two, and in stations having more than one vehicle, each vehicle should have a driver.
According to the panel’s report, the police department had 3,610 vehicles which required 4,306 drivers. However, only 3,071 police personnel were engaged in driver's duty.
Other recommendations of the panel include limiting the duty hours of police drivers to 12 hours, creating software for maintenance of police vehicles, ensuring a 10-year annual maintenance contract during the purchase of vehicles, conducting e-auction of old vehicles, and giving equal opportunity for women during the appointment of drivers.
Drivers in Kerala Police:
Constables – 3033
Head Constables – 38
Assistant Sub Inspectors – 19
Sub Inspectors – 19
Motor Transport Officers – 19
Police vehicles (except two-wheelers and boats)
Heavy motor vehicles – 328
Medium motor vehicles – 203
Jeeps – 158
Sports utility vehicles (SUVs) – 2719
Cars – 13
Other light motor vehicles – 70
Total – 3610
