Mandatory weekly off for TN cops, except Chennai

Special DGP (Law and Order) Rajesh Das issued instructions to all District Superintendents of Police and City Commissioners under his jurisdiction to sanction the weekly offs.

In Chennai, officers clarified that though the weekly-off system exists, a large number of personnel prefer to work on that day to earn overtime pay as weekly offs are not mandatory in the city. As per service rules, police personnel are entitled to a day’s leave after six days of work. The decision comes at a time when the TN police force has recorded a high number of deaths this year due to COVID, suicides and others.

“We are not doing any charity but it is their right to have one day off in a week,” a senior officer said when pointed out that the weekly-off was long pending demand of the constabulary. The offs will be allotted on different days of the week with some flexibility and Sunday offs could be implemented on a rotation basis.