’Public has right to check my salary’

Says a senior IPS officer in the state who declared his assets to the public on a social-networking website

'Public has right to check my salary'

Says a senior IPS officer in the state who declared his assets to the public on a social-networking website

In a first display of transparent honesty among lawmen, the director general and inspector general of police of fire services and home guards has put up details of his immovable property returns (as submitted to the Government-DPAR) on his Facebook profile for all to see. DV Guruprasad said, "I wanted to declare information about my assets to the public because I am a public servant and I get my salary from them. I personally believe that I am accountable to them." This is the first time a senior IPS officer in the state is declaring his immovable assets to the public, though most IAS and IPS officers consider this information as 'confidential'.

Many IAS and IPS officers have not declared their assets before the government, though according to the DPAR rules, they should submit the same between January 1 and March 31 every year. The DGP's initiative was discussed during the debate over bureaucrats' immovable assets not being known to the public.u00a0"I am educated in the UK where police officers work under municipal administration and the public have access to their work details. If the officer is not performing, he will be shunted out and if he is rendering the services satisfactorily, he will get encouragement, he said, adding that such a system will lead to better service."

Another first
Guruprasad, has also taken another initiative and put his "Monthly Work Done Statement" on his profile of the networking site.According to the administrative tradition, he was not expected tou00a0 give his "monthly diary" to the Government.While he was the DGP of CID, he had been updating the Chief Secretary and the Principal Home Secretary about all his activities and was sending them statements of work done by him.

Guruprasad said, "After taking over as DGP of Fire Services, Home Guards, I thought of making my monthly report public too. You can see what I have done from the day I took charge as DGP Home Guards on February 10, 2011 till April 10, 2011. This is also on my profile."u00a0u00a0Guruprasad said that such steps will increase accountability of police officers and bureaucrats to public, and just as politicians are expectedu00a0 shouldu00a0 to declare their assets for scrutiny, so should be the bureaucrats. Even A High Court judge has done the same to encourage others, he added.

Cops step up
The police has started a toll-free number (1800-4250-100) to facilitate the public to air grievances related to the police, and to pass on information related to corruption and nepotism. "Calls will be recorded, follow-up action taken and feedback will be provided," said Director General and Inspector General of Police, S T Ramesh.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels