With transfers of IPS officers becoming highly frequent, many officers have faced as many as 10 transfers, even more, under the Mayawati regime since May 2007.

Several crime-prone districts like Meerut and Muzaffarnagar have seen eight police chiefs in the period, with an average tenure of nearly three months.

The state has over 90 IPS officers who have faced at least five transfers in the last two years. The IPS cadre strength of Uttar Pradesh is a little over 400.

Retired DGP Sri Ram Arun said no officer can deliver results without having tenure of at least two to three years in a district. “Every district has its own problems and issues. An IPS officer needs time to make his action plan,” he said.

Since transfers are always ordered “in public interest”, an officer said, “What public interest can be served by giving officers tenures as short as a week at a place?”

Besides affecting policing, frequent transfers also play havoc with the families of officers. “The biggest sufferer is the family. Imagine you have little children who have to change school so often,” said an officer.

Another officer pointed out that the most abused position in the state is of SP, Intelligence. “It is like a transit visa. IPS officers are posted and removed from the intelligence wing within a week,” he said. 

* Ajay Anand: 10 postings
Shortest tenure: Nearly two weeks as DIG, ATS, Lucknow
Longest tenure: 3 months and 15 days as SSP, Bareilly
Current posting: Waiting for posting

* Navin Arora: 10 postings
Shortest tenure: Nearly 10 days as Commandant, 32nd battalion, Lucknow
Longest tenure: Nearly five months as SP, Agra
Current posting: SP, Intelligence Headquarters, Lucknow

... contd.