Chennai police may soon enjoy weekly offs, duty roster on the cards

The one-day off has been a long-standing demand by the Sub-Inspectors, Inspectors, Assistant Commissioners and the constabulary, who otherwise do not have a specified day off.

“We have been trying to bring in the system for the past few months now. However, we are being faced with deployment issues in some parts of the city and hence the delay. First it was the Cauvery Management Board issue in April while Thoothukudi firing happened a month later, in May. We are hopeful of implementing it soon,” a senior city police officer noted.

So far, all the police personnel were told they were entitled for a weekly off, but they could still work and avail of the off when they needed.

“Now senior officials understand that police personnel should be allowed to take one day off once every seven days and working continuously without a break would only shoot up your stress levels,” the officer further said.

“It will be a great relief if we get a mandatory off day like any other government staff. I can also plan a day with my family and devote my time to other work,” a constable from a Law and Order Wing noted.

Policemen in smaller units, where work load is less, already enjoy their weekly offs. But those working in wings like the Law and Order, Traffic, face extreme difficulty in availing of their weekly offs due to the work load.

All the Deputy Commissioners in the city, including those handling Law and Order, had agreed to implement the weekly off system suggested by City Police Chief AK Viswanathan, sources said. It is getting delayed because of administrative issues, they added.

Last year, when the police constabulary had called for a one-day hunger strike via social media, one of the main demands they put forward was implementation of a mandatory weekly off and stipulated working hours.