Stagnation in time-bound-promotions leave Men-in-Khaki demoralized in J&K

Jammu: Decades after joining the force, the lower rung 'Men in Khaki’ in Jammu and Kashmir Police are allegedly feeling demoralized due to stagnation in the time-bound-promotions.
Performing professional duties, be it either counter insurgency operations, dealing crime, law and order problem, security threats, natural calamities or traffic management, ‘Khaki’ stood tall 24x7 to serve the people despite all odds but, the lower rung officers feeling 'demoralized' due to stagnation in the promotion process.
“We are running pillar to post for promotions but our efforts are going in vain,” an inspector rank officer from one of the batches awaiting promotion said.
He said, “as of now, the sub-inspectors and inspectors of eight batches are in queue for promotions and the longest wait is for the batch of 1995.”
“Baring few who got out of the turn promotion, the inspectors of the 1995 batch are waiting for elevation and some are at the verge of retirement,” the officer added.
The batches of 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 20024, 2006, 2010 and S-Is batch of 2019 are eyeing a reward in form of promotion after giving decades to the department, said a police officer.
Urging the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the newly elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah headed government, he opined, “we have honestly given decades in the force and now it is the turn of the department to pay back to our sincere efforts.”
Another inspector rank officer from 2000 batch expressed, “time-bound promotion process must be introduced like we have in the armed forces for efficient working and maintaining better synergy with subordinates.”
“The officers of 1995, 1998, 2000 batches and likewise others, be it inspectors or sub-inspectors, both are on a same page,” he said, adding that even after 15 to 20 years of service, Inspectors and sub-inspectors of new batches, are heading the police stations and police posts.
Quoting the Armed Forces format of promotion, he said, “Jammu and Kashmir Home Department must give a thought to promotions on a similar pattern as it will rejuvenate the force and also give an opportunity to understand the work culture in a better way.”
“If armed forces have time-bound promotions then why cannot we have and J&K Police is equally shouldering them in key operations,” he expressed.
As per the police rules, he said that a Sub-Inspector has to be promoted in an eight to nine year period of service but it takes 12 to 13 years, which affects the entire ladder.
Only few sub-inspectors (direct recruits), in their entire service are witness to their pinning ceremony to top ranks as many get retired with a dream in the eyes of being elevated to next level, said the officer.
The promotion files despite directions from the Court in (some cases) as per sources are awaiting clearance.
“The Sub-Inspectors recruited directly are facing the brunt of apathy despite being the face of policing as SHOs, DTIs, investigating officers or wherever they are posted,” said an aggrieved cop.
“Time bound promotions from the S-I level must be mandatory to strengthen the cadre and also to become professional in delivering to the society,” he expressed, adding that just two promotions in the entire service span of more than three decades is upsetting and demoralising.
“Police force can be joined after clearing UPSC, JKPS, SI and Constable examinations but if compared, an IPS officer gets at least six promotions in his entire service followed by JKPS officer entitled to three to four promotions, Constables gets at least three promotions but when it comes to the Sub-Inspectors, they get maximum of two promotions except those get out of turn for exemplary service,” said the cop with a heavy heart.
“Sometimes we become hopeless but cannot give up. We have pledged to serve the nation but those at helm of affairs must give due consideration to our plea on time bound promotions which will encourage us to deliver efficient and proficient policing and paving way for junior slot,” he said.
Notably, in October this year, Jammu and Kashmir government has also notified new “J&K Police (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 2024 and under the new rules, appointment to the JKP Service will be made by “direct recruitment; or by promotion; or partly by direct recruitment and partly by promotion” as per the specified ratio and the manner.
All the posts under direct recruitment will be filled through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) through its Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) or Selection Committees of the (J&K) Home Department.
For this purpose, J&K Home Department will also constitute two Selection Committees, including one headed by the Chief Secretary.
Rules however, also provide that the appointment by promotion in respect of three specific categories of posts will be made on the recommendation of JKPSC including Junior Scale (Deputy Superintendent of Police) and Time Scale (Superintendent of Police) of the General Cadre; Deputy Superintendent of Police and equivalent levels in Telecommunication, Ministerial, Stenography, Photography, Police Transport Workshop and Arms and Ammunition Cadres and thirdly, Superintendent of Police and equivalent levels in Telecommunication, Ministerial and Stenography Cadres.
Established in 1873, the Jammu and Kashmir Police is the only police force in the country facing counter-insurgency for the last 35 years with hundreds of sacrifices and the force has primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation across.'UNI

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