Colonial ‘orderly system’ abolished in Karnataka Police after decades

Bengaluru: In a major administrative reform, the long-standing “orderly system” in the Karnataka Police has finally been abolished. The move comes following an order issued by Director General and Inspector General of Police M. A. Saleem, bringing an end to a practice that had its origins in the colonial era.

The decision is being viewed as a significant step towards modernising the police force and restoring professional dignity to police personnel who were previously assigned to non-official duties at the residences of senior officers.

What was the ‘orderly system’?

The orderly system dates back to the British colonial period, when police constables were attached to senior officers to assist them in personal and domestic work. Under this arrangement, constables were deputed to officers’ homes where they performed various household tasks rather than policing duties.

These tasks often included cooking, cleaning houses, taking children to school and running other personal errands for officers and their families. Although India gained independence decades ago, the system continued in several states, including Karnataka.

Over the years, the practice had drawn criticism from police reform experts and civil society groups. Critics argued that police personnel, who are recruited to maintain law and order and serve the public, should not be deployed for personal work at officers’ residences.

Why the reform became necessary

The abolition of the system also comes in the backdrop of persistent staff shortages in the police department. Various reports have pointed out that Karnataka Police faces a significant shortage of personnel, affecting the efficiency of law-and-order management and crime control.

In such a scenario, deploying trained police constables for domestic duties was widely seen as a misuse of manpower. Many personnel who could have been deployed for public safety were instead tied up with private tasks, which affected overall policing capacity.

Key changes under the new system

As part of the reform, around 3,320 police personnel who were functioning as orderlies will now be withdrawn from such duties and reassigned to regular police work. This is expected to strengthen manpower availability at police stations and improve law-and-order management across the state.

To address logistical needs at senior officers’ residences, the government has proposed creating 373 separate orderly positions. However, these posts will be filled by non-police staff, ensuring that trained police personnel are not diverted from their core responsibilities.

Additionally, a monthly allowance system has been proposed for officers based on their rank. Under the proposal, the Director General of Police will receive ₹8,000 per month, Additional DGPs ₹6,000, Inspectors General ₹5,000, DIGs and Superintendents of Police ₹3,000, and other officers ₹2,000 as allowances.

Impact on policing and morale

The reform is expected to improve both the operational efficiency of the police force and the morale of personnel. By returning thousands of constables to field duties, the department will gain additional manpower for crime prevention, investigation and public safety operations.

Experts also believe that abolishing the orderly system will enhance the dignity and professionalism of the police force. Ending the practice of using uniformed personnel for domestic work is seen as a step toward a more modern, accountable and equitable policing system.

The move is therefore being viewed not just as an administrative decision but also as a symbolic step in dismantling a colonial-era practice and strengthening respect for police personnel in Karnataka.

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