Why don’t some Assam Police Service (APS) officers submit property returns on time?

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam Civil Service (ACS) and Assam Police Service (APS) officers have to submit their annual property returns to the State Government. This rule had been incorporated to tackle the malaise of corruption. However, a section of APS officers does not follow this rule.

According to a government portal, around 300 police officers have not submitted their annual property returns. Allegations often surface that a section of APS officers, and even lower rank officers, own assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. But there is no mechanism to monitor the personal assets of the officers.

All APS officers must submit their annual property returns in two separate formats – immovable property returns (IPRs) and movable property returns (MPRs) by January 31 every year to their appointing authority. According to rule, those who do not submit their IRPs and MPRs, shall be denied vigilance clearance and shall not be considered for promotion, empanelment for senior-level post, deputation, permission for availing bank loan and NOC (No Objection Certificate) for passport. Non-submission of annual property returns shall be recorded against the ‘Integrity’ column in ACR (Annual Confidential Report), besides initiation of disciplinary action against the officer concerned for violating the Assam Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965.

As per rule, Immovable Property Returns submitted by police officers shall be placed in public domain/official website of the respective administrative department so that if anyone has any objection, they can register a complaint.

However, sources said that a section of police officers do not furnish the details of their assets as mandated by rule. Unfortunately, there is no mechanism for monitoring this. If steps are taken to ensure that all police officers submit their annual property returns and if there is proper monitoring of the assets of police officers, corruption by a section of police officers can be put under check.

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