Bengaluru: At Karnataka State Police headquarters on Nrupathunga Road, a familiar scene was expected to unfold on Thursday: Officers in starched uniforms waiting with bouquets, handshakes, salutes, and smiles to welcome the newly appointed state police chief.But MA Saleem, the new director general and inspector general of police (DG-IGP), had other plans.Saleem, known for hands-on leadership style, abruptly hit pause on the age-old police tradition of the ceremonial call-on. Junior police officers, some of whom had prepared to travel hundreds of kilometres to Bengaluru, were told to stay put. “There’s work to be done,” was Saleem’s message. “Let’s begin straightaway without wasting time.”Instead of the in-person visits and customary formalities, Saleem hosted a virtual ‘introductory session’, in which he addressed colleagues via videoconference. No garlands, no hand-delivered best wishes — just a clear signal it was time to get down to business.For decades, the ‘call-on’ has been a staple in bureaucratic circles — an unwritten rule that junior officers must personally congratulate their new boss. Missing it has, in the past, led to raised eyebrows or worse. Some officers even boasted about how many bouquets they received during their takeover.But Saleem wasn’t swayed by tradition. “Since I already know most of the officers, there’s no point in wasting time with formal visits,” he said, according to one senior IPS officer present during the video conference. “It’s better we use that time for our duties.”The decision, though unconventional, wasn’t entirely out of character for Saleem. As special commissioner of police (traffic) in Bengaluru city, he was known to set the bar high. His official car would leave his home by 7am, sometimes earlier. By 8am, inspectors would already be out on the roads. “Even during floods, we saw him with his trousers rolled up, clearing clogged roads like any other constable,” recalled a traffic cop.“He leads by example.”