GUWAHATI, Oct 30 - In a major decision, the Home department is soon going to make assets declaration mandatory for officers of the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector, Sub-Inspector (SI) and Inspector, which also includes the officer-in-charge of police stations across the State.
Assam will be one of the few States in India where mandatory property declaration would be applicable for the thana-level officers as well.
The notification to this effect will soon be issued and accordingly the SIs and Inspectors will have to declare their assets on an annual basis.
The step, according to Assam Police sources, is aimed at checking corruption at the grass-root level and ensuring transparency and uprightness at all levels of policing, including those serving at the Special Branch.
�Since there is already a rule in place for the Assam Police Service (APS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, the Home department deemed it right to widen the spectrum of accountability at the thana-level,� official sources told The Assam Tribune.
�Along with the annual tax returns, the non-gazette officers will have to submit the list of moveable and immoveable properties every year,� sources said, adding the details of the submission will be in put in public domain.
�If any police officer refrain from doing so, his or her promotion would be put on halt and further in case of any discrepancy, strict action would be initiated against the officer(s) concerned,� sources said.
Asked whether the immediate family members of the officers would also be require to make submissions related to their assets, sources stated the department is considering several avenues to plug all possible loopholes.
