As State Govt lifts ban on promotions Mah police force heaves sigh of relief

Much awaited promotions in police department of Maharashtra State are on cards as State Finance Department has given a green signal to undertake the yearly exercise. The move would also benefit other departments of State Government as the pending promotions may be cleared soon.

The promotions and transfers of officers of Indian Police Officers (IPS) and State Police Service (SPS) was delayed since January this year. After outbreak of novel coronavirus, Finance Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) on May 4, 2020 in which Para No. 15 stated that no department of State Government will carry out transfers to maintain consistency in measures being taken to contain graph of novel coronavirus. In short a blanket ban was imposed on the yearly transfers that is awaited by rank and file.

The move triggered resentment among the senior rank officials as any delay would affect their future career prospects. Various meetings held during the lockdown period saw the issue about transfer cropping up quite frequently. Taking note of it, office of Director General of Police (DGP) Maharashtra wrote a letter to Finance Department seeking permission to carry out promotions of officials. 

Sandip Dhakne, Additional Secretary, Home Department, in his reply to DGP Subodh Jaiswal clarified no restrictions were imposed for filling of vacancies by promotions. Fresh posting through promotions’ is not covered by Para No. 15 of GR that froze promotions. With this clarification, senior officials are hoping that their much awaited promotion order will be issued from the office of DGP in near future.

It may be mentioned here that a wave of disgruntlement was spreading fast among officers of Indian Police Service (IPS) in Maharashtra cadre as their orders for promotion were held-up for past six months. The promotion list was cleared at meeting of Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) held a couple of months back but was kept pending with Police Establishment Board (PEB) of State police awaiting nod from finance officials. 

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. Already the promotions have been delayed and their batchmates in other States apart from those in Central cadre have already edged past them. 

Nine posts of DIGs are vacant in Maharashtra and eight SP rank officers are eligible for the promotion. For eight vacant posts of IGPs, five DIGs are eligible and six IGPs are in line for next promotion that  of ADGP. Three ADGP rank officials including Rashmi Shukla, Dr K Venkatesham and Rajnish Seth are due for elevation 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. 

Due to delayed promotion, the officers are deprived of financial benefits of revised pay structure for past 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.

Transfers and promotions before July 31 

Maharashtra Government on Tuesday modified it's Government Resolution (GR) prohibiting transfers of Government officials and said the exercise can be carried out with cap of 15 per cent staff by July 31, 2020.  According to GR, transfers can still be carried out with nod of competent authority, if needed. Similarly, transfers in exceptional and special cases can also be done before July 31. With this order, the Government has given its nod to much awaited General Transfers of Sate Government employees.