Pune: Election Readiness Forces Police Personnel into Longer, Unpaid Shifts

Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Pune, 28th October 2024: Police personnel and officers in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are working day and night without formally tracking their schedules. Typically, police officers are assigned 12 hours of duty followed by 12 hours of rest.

However, with the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Elections, this schedule is not being adhered to. There are no official weekly offs, and when granted, officers are required to complete extra duty beforehand. Despite the extended hours, police officers are not compensated for overtime. Combined with a working culture that is unsuitable for optimal performance, police officers are finding themselves in increasingly difficult situations.

According to Section 22 of The Police Act of 1861, police officers must always be on duty or ready to take on responsibilities anywhere in their district. This provision means there are no fixed hours of duty for policemen, whether they are constables or commissioners, making them ineligible for overtime pay. As a result, the physical and mental toll of the job goes uncompensated. Many organizations advocating for police officers have requested the establishment of fixed working hours with overtime pay, but these demands continue to be ignored. While a decision was made by the Maharashtra Police to implement a fixed schedule—12 hours on duty followed by 12 hours of rest—several police officials have informed Punekar News that this policy is not being enforced.

In 2014, when Devendra Fadnavis was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, he mandated one weekly off for police personnel and officers and stipulated that they be paid one day’s salary according to their scale. However, this has been overlooked in recent years.

A Senior Police Inspector from Pimpri Chinchwad Police stated that officers are typically assigned 12-hour shifts. However, during emergencies, the schedule is not strictly followed. With the upcoming elections, political leaders frequently visit the jurisdiction, and officers are assigned additional duties during these visits. “Although we try to assign hours-based shifts to our juniors, such as constables or sub-inspectors, we often have to stay longer to lead the team during emergencies,” he added.

Experts say that extended working hours can severely impact a person’s physical and mental health. The lack of sufficient rest leads to chronic fatigue, stress, and burnout. Without overtime pay, financial stress adds to their burden, reducing motivation and morale. Over time, this can result in decreased job satisfaction and may affect their ability to perform critical duties effectively, risking both personal well-being and public safety. A person who does not get enough rest may experience various health complications, including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Chronic fatigue can also weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections.

A police constable from Pune Police said, “Normally, we are given 12-hour shifts; however, many VIPs are coming to the city, so we often have to attend to their arrangements. During these times, our schedules are overlooked. Emergencies arise occasionally, and when a case is being investigated, our working hours are sometimes ignored. Additionally, I am studying for the MPSC exam, which affects my studies as well.”

A constable from Pimpri Chinchwad Police also stated that unless the matter they are working on is resolved, they do not go home. As a result, the ’12-hour’ duty can be extended to 14, 16, 18, or even 24 hours. Still, the investigation and resolution of the issue take priority over everything else.

Police officers also complained about their duty hours, stating that they are unable to spend time with their families, especially their wives and children. They cannot attend their children’s schools or colleges to ensure they are doing well or to track their progress. Officers mentioned that this situation affects their family bonds, as they are not even allowed to go home during festivals.

According to the Police Act, police officers are not granted weekly offs or similar benefits, as their duty is supposed to be 24/7. However, the Maharashtra Police has introduced weekly offs. Reports from Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad indicate that whenever a police officer is given a weekly off, they must complete a straight 24-hour duty beforehand. This primarily occurs due to a lack of personnel in the police force, not just in Pune or Pimpri Chinchwad.

As of March 2023, Maharashtra’s police-to-population ratio was 186.36 police personnel per lakh of the population. This number is shockingly low and significantly below the recommended ratio. According to the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the suggested ratio is around 222 police personnel per lakh of the population. This shortfall may contribute to the inconsistency in adhering to duty hours.

Although other government officials receive bonuses for festivals, police officers are not given any festive bonuses. Police receive Rs 12,500 for their major religious festivals. However, for the next 10 months, Rs 1,200 per month is deducted from their salaries. Some organizations have demanded that, compared to other government agencies, policemen work more hours. They propose that the extra hours worked should be tracked and compensated with additional bonuses during festivals. However, this request has been ignored.