Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Police have issued a sweeping directive, prohibiting unauthorised use of power supply across police office premises, barracks, and residential quarters in the state.
The official circular issued on August 1 by by the Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) flags multiple unauthorised practices that place an undue financial on the state exchequer and violate administrative norms:
Charging Electric Vehicles (EVs): The department highlighted that police personnel owning electric vehicles have been charging them using office power supply. The directive notes that this practice results in a “substantial increase in electricity consumption and imposing an avoidable financial burden on the government”.
Power Theft by Adjacent Quarters/Barracks: Authorities observed several instances where residential quarters and barracks located adjacent to office buildings draw power directly from office lines to “avoid payment of their own electricity charges.” The order explicitly termed this practice unauthorised and strictly prohibited.
Safety Hazards in Barracks: The order pointed out that personnel in police barracks are using high-consumption electric heaters for cooking purposes, calling out both the excessive power consumption and the “serious safety hazards” it poses.
Reiterating that as a disciplined organisation, the police department must strictly adhere to all legal provisions, the circular orders immediate remedial action. Heads of all Police Establishments in Odisha have been directed to thoroughly inspect their premises to detect and clear unauthorised power connections, ensure any illegal hookups or misuse of office electricity are disconnected forthwith, and fix responsibility on individuals concerned to initiate disciplinary proceedings under relevant service rules for any future violations.
