The Kerala Police Officers’ Association has opposed the proposed government move to appoint Sub-Inspectors as Station House Officers (SHOs) in the majority of police stations in the State and has claimed that the said decision would weaken the supervisory structure of the police force.The Association has called for retaining Circle Inspectors as SHOs. Police stations will function more efficiently if CIs with their vast experience remain as SHOs, supervising Sub Inspectors. It also sought the creation of one additional Circle Inspector post each for efficient policingThe Association, which adopted a series of resolutions at its State Committee meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, said the decision to appoint Sub-Inspectors as SHOs in 420 of Kerala’s 484 police stations, with CIs continuing as SHOs in only 64 stations, while re-deploying 220 posts of CIs (who are currently SHOs) in various police sectors will take the State backward as far as law and order is concerned.The Association pointed out that the appointment of Inspectors as SHOs was based, among other considerations, on the recommendations of the Justice K.T. Thomas Commission on police reforms. Given the powers exercised by police stations and the increasing demands on the police, an experienced Inspector should head every police station, it said.Instead of reducing the rank of the SHO, the government should create additional Inspector posts and strengthen the supervisory structure by increasing the number of police sub-divisions, the Association said. It also opposed the proposed deployment of Inspector posts from the 420 stations for creating new Circles and other requirements.The Association pointed out that earlier, the government had decided to upgrade 268 posts of Sub Inspectors to that of CIs, to be posted as SHOs. It demanded that since the existing strength of Sub-Inspectors was itself inadequate for the effective functioning of police stations, 268 new posts of Sub Inspectors be created.Another major demand concerns seniority among Sub-Inspectors. The Association alleged that in some districts seniority lists were not being followed in departmental arrangements and that directly recruited Sub-Inspectors were being given preference over promoted officers who were senior according to the official seniority list. It sought clear instructions from Police Headquarters to ensure that seniority norms were uniformly followed.The Association has also sought special consideration in transfers and postings for police personnel whose spouses are government employees.It alleged that several transfers, which were implemented in violation of prescribed norms, had reached the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. It urged Police Headquarters to ensure that transfers were made strictly according to established normsThe Association also called for continued and strengthened participation of police personnel in the State’s campaign against drugsIt also appealed to the government for the implementation of the 12th pay revision commission Published - August 08, 2026 08:46 pm IST