SANJIB BANERJEE, J. - (1.) The petitioners are unemployed young residents of this State who complain of a sham process being undertaken for engagement of civic police volunteers in West Bengal Police in year 2013. The two matters pertain to the police stations of Barikul and Sarenga in district Bankura.
(2.) The charges in both petitions are similar. Pursuant to a notification of February 28, 2013, a recruitment drive was undertaken to enroll 1,30,000 civic police volunteers on temporary basis. The avowed purpose therefor was "to supplement the mainstream policing on special occasions such as festivals and emergent situations for traffic management, providing routine guarding duties for short duration deployment" and the like. The notification of February 28, 2013 contemplated ten days' training to be imparted to the recruited volunteers and an honourarium of Rs.141.80p to each volunteer per day. The volunteers were to be provided two sets of uniforms and prior government approval would be required before actual deployment. The volunteers were to be recruited on the basis of the guidelines in a government order of September 26, 2011.
(3.) The guidelines for eligibility, mode of induction, training, duties and termination were indicated in the government order of September 26, 2011. The eligibility criteria were as follows: "I. Resident of the area under the police station where they will be deployed. II. Age between 20 to 30 years, (as on 1st January of the respective year of enrolment) III. Should have passed Madhyamik standard Examination. IV. Should have represented at least School/Club level sports. V. Should have experience as NCC Cadet / Boy Scouts / NSS Guide/ Civil Defence Volunteers etc. VI. Should not have any criminal record against them in any police station. VII. Should be medically fit." ;