No Job, No Pay for 190 Andhra Cops Since June 2024? MP Calls It a Human Rights Issue

Andhra Pradesh MP Maddila Gurumoorthy has written a strongly worded letter to the prime minister, president, and chief justice of India. In his letter, he claimed that more than 190 police officers in the state have not been given any official postings or salaries since June 2024. He described this situation as both "unconstitutional" and "inhuman", urging immediate action to help the affected officers.

Officers Kept Waiting Without Duties or Salaries

According to Mr. Gurumoorthy, the officers in question include 27 Additional Superintendents of Police, 42 Deputy Superintendents, and over 100 Inspectors. He stated that these officers were placed under "Vacancy Reserve" or "compulsory wait" without any explanation, inquiry, or legal case against them. Despite reporting every day to the Director General of Police (DGP) in Mangalagiri, they have not been assigned any work, nor have they been paid. He called the situation a clear violation of the Indian Constitution’s Articles 14, 16, and 21, saying it has caused serious mental, financial, and professional hardship for the officers and their families.

Government Responds: Officers Are Being Paid

In response, the Andhra Pradesh government admitted that 199 officers had been placed in reserve since June 2024. However, the state denied claims of salary cuts, saying that all officers are still being paid.

Officials explained that placing officers on “wait” is a routine administrative step and not a form of punishment. They said the delay in assigning roles was due to departmental changes, pending disciplinary matters, or medical reasons. The state insisted that no service rules or Supreme Court orders were broken.

MP Questions Unequal Treatment and Seeks Justice

Mr. Gurumoorthy questioned why police officers are treated differently from other services like IAS or Revenue, where officers still receive their salaries even without current postings. He added that while senior police officers are left waiting, the state is requesting officers from other states under All India Services, which he called “hypocritical”. He also raised concerns that many of these officers are still performing unofficial duties, such as security for VIP events or religious gatherings, without proper compensation or respect, often using public transport while in uniform.

Calls for Central and Judicial Intervention

Referring to the Supreme Court’s 2006 ruling in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case, which protects police officers from political pressure and unfair treatment, Mr. Gurumoorthy demanded immediate steps to correct the situation.

He asked the central government and the judiciary to direct Andhra Pradesh to:

• Give official postings to all affected officers
• Release pending salaries and allowances
• Resume pension contributions
• Offer compensation for what he called "unlawful deprivation"
• “This is not just about administration,” he said. “It’s about justice, constitutional values, and protecting the dignity of public servants.”