Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 23

Punjab has decided to abolish the nearly 80-year-old colonial practice of promoting policemen to a higher rank without any corresponding rise in salary as well as the discretionary powers of the Director General of Police (DGP) to award such promotions. This practice (own rank and pay) was in place since 1934.

Instead, a committee comprising the DGP, the Home Secretary and other senior officials will decide on promotions purely on professional grounds with adequate proof on the efficiency and ability of the candidate listed for promotion.

Suresh Arora, the state DGP, told mediapersons at an informal meeting here today that the Deputy Chief Minister, who holds the Home portfolio, had given in-principle approval to the policy.

The DGP said the colonial practice had left the police rank and file demoralised with some ‘genuine’ promotees being reverted. Arora said he had not used his discretionary powers to promote anybody ever since he took charge in October last year.

With hundreds promoted allegedly on the whims of senior police officers, many aggrieved police employees had approached the courts.

Significantly, the ward of a policeman killed in action will now be given a job on the basis of his/her qualification and not the rank held by the deceased. For example, a constable’s son, if qualified, will be be taken as Inspector.

The Police Department has decided to implement the policy rightaway with the Deputy CM scheduled to attend the piping ceremony of two such recruits here on Monday.

“The government wants to send out the message that it cares for its staff and they should work without any fear as the government will take care of their families,” Arora added.