Trainee cops miss marriage date

23 Apr, 2007

HAZARIBAG: Some 30 Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) jawans who are undergoing rigorous training at the Padma police training centre and whose marriages were fixed on April 20, on the occasion of "Akshay Tritiya", could not be solemnised as their leave petitions were not sanctioned. According to sources, some of the brides families had to face major embarrassment as all arrangements for the marriage were complete and due to non-arrival of "barat" to tie the nuptial knot. However, according to the authorities at the police training centre, the prospective bridegrooms had fixed their marriages without getting their leave sanctioned. Their marriage plans were upset as they failed to complete the six-month training programme on schedule time and were denied leave to solemnise their nuptials. "They have to appear for their examination on April 24. However, the leave of 10 others has been sanctioned as their examination is scheduled in November," Hazaribag DSP Johnson Kujur said. According to records, all leave applications had been forwarded to police authorities. The applications of 30 trainees were cancelled while that of 10 others were granted. A senior IPS officer, who did not want to be named, said the trainees should have fixed their marriage only after completing their training. "Is it proper on their part to fix their marriage dates without completing the training? They were aware that the stint might be extended if they failed in their last test," the officer said. Another IPS officer said: "Though it is their life to decide, they have to make a choice between career and marriage." The trainees, however, claimed deputation duties had resulted in the extension of their training period. About 400 trainees are currently being trained at the centre.