Kolkata Police has prohibited its personnel from using earphones or headphones while on duty, with Police Commissioner Ajay Nand directing that violators will face strict disciplinary action. The order was communicated to all police stations under its jurisdiction on Saturday night, 19 July, and senior officers have been briefed accordingly.

What Triggered the Order

The directive follows reports that several personnel were found distracted by their mobile phones during duty hours — watching videos or listening to music through earphones despite an existing prohibition on mobile phone use while on duty. Authorities noted that such behaviour compromised alertness and impaired the ability to respond to emergencies in a timely manner.

The new order specifically targets earphone and headphone use, closing a gap that personnel had reportedly been exploiting even as the broader mobile phone ban remained in place.

Scope and Enforcement

Instructions have been dispatched to every police station within Kolkata Police's jurisdiction. Authorities have also stepped up internal surveillance to ensure compliance and to prevent negligence in frontline policing. Personnel ignoring the directive will face strict punishment, officials confirmed.

In a related move, Kolkata Police recently issued a separate order barring personnel from performing official duties in plain clothes, except those attached to certain specialised units — indicating a broader push to enforce visible, accountable policing on the streets.

Part of a Wider Discipline Drive

The earphone ban is one of several reforms introduced since the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government came to power in April. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has stressed the need to modernise and strengthen the police force, urging personnel to prioritise physical fitness alongside professional discipline.

In June, Chief Minister Adhikari announced plans to increase police strength across West Bengal by 20,000 personnel over the next six months to one year — a signal that the administration is investing in both headcount and conduct standards simultaneously.

What This Means for Policing in Kolkata

Discipline lapses in frontline policing are not unique to Kolkata, but the speed and specificity of these directives suggest the new administration is moving to establish visible accountability early in its tenure. Notably, the combination of a plain-clothes ban and an earphone ban targets both visibility and attentiveness — two pillars of effective street-level policing.

With 20,000 new recruits expected over the coming year, how the force internalises these conduct standards will be a key test of whether the reform drive translates into measurable improvement on the ground.