BENGALURU: The proposed revamping of Bengaluru City Police (BCP) may happen early next month. According to placed sources, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is likely to discuss the issue during the Cabinet meeting scheduled on October 1, and the notification will be issued immediately thereafter, setting the ball in motion.
“Government is likely to post five Inspector General of Police (IGP) rank officers as commissioner, and one Additional Director General of Police-rank officer as chief commissioner (CC).
There are strong contenders for the commissioner and chief commissioner posts among IGPs and ADGPs. Some officers of the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) who are due for promotion shortly, are also in the race for commissioner,” said sources seeking anonymity.
“There will be a technical difficulty in creating the CC post as there is no mention of such a post in the Karnataka Police (KP) Act. The government may either issue an ordinance to amend the KP Act and have the DG&IGP supervise the five commissioners till then.
They can also declare the CC post as equivalent to the post of commissioner, BCP,” added the sources. “There will be logistics issues, on new office spaces and infrastructure,” they said.
Shivakumar had made an announcement on the BCP revamp during his Independence Day speech, but did not elaborate on it. During the 100-day celebration of his government, the CM announced the splitting of BCP into five zones on the lines of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) but for reasons not discussed during the Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru. It is now expected to be discussed at the October 1 cabinet meeting,” said sources.
There is a silent buzz among IPS officers in the state on the impending major restructuring of the BCP. “To become the commissioner, BCP is an aspiration that most IPS officers of Karnataka cadre cherish. Heading the five commissionerates is also the most sought after posting. Names of senior-most ADGPs are doing the rounds though no one has been sounded off as yet,” sources said.
Incumbent Police Commissioner Seemant Singh had on August 1 submitted a draft proposal on the guidelines proposed by the government, to reorganise BCP on the five municipal corporations of the GBA.