Karnataka police to bring back over 3,000 orderlies to active duty

In a major reform aimed at strengthening field policing, the Karnataka Police has decided to redeploy 3,320 trained personnel currently working as orderlies to active law-and-order duties.

The directive was issued on April 4, 2026, by Director General and Inspector General of Police M.A. Saleem, who ordered that the use of orderlies be reduced by 50%. Trained constables and head constables engaged in domestic and non-policing duties at the residences of senior officers as orderlies — a colonial era practice — will now be withdrawn and reassigned to core policing roles. Mr. Saleem had earlier, in January, issued orders to implement the State government’s decision to overhaul the existing orderly system and introduce an alternative arrangement.