September 15, 2025

HISAR: Strange but true! Police officers in Haryana are now saying a big NO to promotions. Justice Jagmohan Bansal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently called this unusual, saying, “Promotion is an honour, not a compulsion.” But why are police employees turning down such a chance? TOI dug deeper. Talking with police personnel, especially those who took voluntary retirement (VRS) recently, uncovered startling facts. Officers say the jump from constable to havildar barely raises salary but brings heavy costs. A havildar becomes an Investigation Officer (IO), responsible for FIRs. But guess what? No official support is given for basics like a laptop (cost Rs 30,000), printer (Rs 10,000), car (Rs 5 lakh), or even a chair and table (around Rs 2,000). In total, this means spending around Rs 5.42 lakh from their own pockets! Cars are a must because riding motorcycles with accused persons? Impossible! Wait, there’s more. Stationery and case expenses are heavy, and though the government gives some money, it’s not enough. For example, only Rs 2,000 is allowed for High Court petition replies, yet officers often spend more and get just Rs 1,500 after many trips to the Advocate General’s office in Chandigarh. They also get TA-DA and roadways passes, but due to huge workloads, many can’t even claim them. Promotion also means long hours—16 to 18 hours daily instead of the regular eight. Getting leave is a tough task. Constables find comfort in their eight-hour shifts and time with family, without extra costs. So, why take promotion headaches? Retired officers’ stories explain it all. Take Laxmi Narayan from Sirsa. Joining as a constable in 1998, he was pushed into promotion training in 2018, even though he didn’t want it. A year later, as a havildar, he faced mental stress. “The department did not provide a table, chair, laptop, printer or even a vehicle. The burden became unbearable,” he said. He took VRS in 2020 and now runs a peaceful dairy farm. Sachindra from Rohtak’s Pakasma village had a similar journey. Joining in 2003, he became havildar in 2014 and ASI in 2022. But the costs kept piling—car, laptop, printer, furniture—all out of his pocket. He told TOI, “I could only save as much salary as would be equal to my pension after retirement.” He applied for VRS on February 29, 2024, and now farms. One officer in Hisar took VRS just to attend his daughter’s wedding after being denied leave. The SP allegedly said, “Only money is needed for a daughter’s wedding, you send the money.” Shocked, the officer quit. Another poignant tale comes from a sub-inspector who lost his wife. After being granted only five days leave, he was put back on night duty despite danger to his children. “I am heartbroken with the department, but I am continuing the job out of compulsion,” he said. The Haryana Police Association’s State Secretary, Dinesh Siwach, slammed the system. He pointed out confusing rules—Punjab Police Rules (PPR) still punish small mistakes even after Civil Service Rules came in. “Why are police punished for not wearing shoes, smoking, or not saluting when Civil Service Rules are existing?” he asked. Siwach also criticized tough leave policies, low pay, and denied overtime despite long hours. Compared to civil employees who get 122 to 124 holidays yearly, Haryana police get just about 40 leave days, many unused. Rajasthan has a transparent online leave portal, but Haryana does not. Highlighting deaths of 15 to 16 police personnel every month due to heart issues and depression, Siwach demanded better work hours and health care. He also reminded how the BJP promised in 2014 that Haryana Police would get Punjab Police pay scales—yet no progress has come. Instead, ACP benefits are being cut. The harsh truth: For Haryana Police, promotion is more a burden than a blessing. Without proper resources, support, or respect, officers prefer to stay put or quit, leaving the force stretched and stressed. When honor demands heavy prices, who wants to pay? The police ask the government: When will the badge shine with dignity again?

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Tags: Haryana police, Police promotion, Voluntary retirement, Police pay disparity, Punjab police rules, Haryana police association,