Resentment among IPS cadre of State as promotions held-up since six months
   Date :13-Jun-2020

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By Dheeraj Fartode :
 
A wave of disgruntlement is spreading fast among officers of Indian Police Service (IPS) in Maharashtra cadre as their orders for promotion are held-up since past six months. The promotion list was cleared at meeting of Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) held a couple of months ago but now it is said to be pending with Police Establishment Board (PEB) of State police.
 
Dozens of IPS officers are awaiting their promotion from the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) to Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG); DIG to Inspector General of Police (IGP); IGP to Additional to Director General of Police (ADGP) and ADGP to Director General (DG) rank. Sources in Establishment Board informed that nine posts of DIGs are vacant in Maharashtra and eight SP rank officers are eligible for the posts. For eight vacant posts of IGPs, five DIGs are eligible and six IGPs are in line for next promotion that is ADGP. Three ADGP rank officials including Rashmi Shukla, Dr K Venkatesham and Rajnish Seth are due for promotions as Director General (DG). Out of five DG rank posts in Maharashtra Police, only the post of DG (Anti-Corruption) is vacant in the State police cadre.
 
The long-awaited promotions should have been cleared soon after the decision taken at DPC meeting. Due to delayed promotion, the officers are deprived of financial benefits as they are not getting benefits of revised pay structure for six months. The delay also reflects on their career prospects as at Central level their ranking is not in realistic mode due to delay in issuance of promotion orders. The promotion orders are stuck this year owing to delayed formation of new State Government and later due to countrywide lockdown that pralaysed the decision making at every level. In case State Government is not interesting in going for yearly reshuffle, in-situ promotion orders can be issued so that the officers are not deprived the benefit of higher pay structure,” said a top rank official wishing not to be identified.
 
In contrast, promotion orders of Indian Administrative Officers (IAS) were issued in January this year. When contacted, ADGP (Establishment), Maharashtra Police, Kulwant Sarangal, refused to comment on the issue of delayed promotions of IPS officers. IPS officers are to be promoted to the post of DIG on completion of 14 years of the service, IGP after 18 years, ADG after 25 and DG after 30 years. Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Home Sanjay Kumar when contacted confirmed to ‘The Hitavada’ that a meeting of DPC was held a couple of months ago and the list was sent to PEB. “The promotion orders are likely to be issued shortly,” he informed.