SRINAGAR: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will hold a crucial Selection Committee meeting on August 3 in New Delhi to consider the induction of eligible Jammu and Kashmir Police Service (JKPS) officers into the Indian Police Service (IPS) under the promotion quota. The meeting is expected to consider filling eight IPS vacancies identified by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
According to official sources, the Selection Committee meeting will be chaired by a UPSC Member and attended by top officials of the Jammu and Kashmir administration, including Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat, Home Secretary Chandraker Bharti, senior police and civil administration officers, besides representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Sources said all mandatory procedures required for the induction process have been completed. These include vigilance and integrity clearances, No Objection Certificates (NOCs), verification by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), and confirmation that no disciplinary or criminal proceedings are pending against the officers under consideration.
Official sources said the proposed inductions relate to the IPS Select Lists of 2021, 2023 and 2024. Of the eight vacancies, five pertain to the 2021 Select List, two to 2023 and one to 2024, while no vacancy has been notified for the 2022 Select List. The vacancies for 2021 also include carried-forward posts from the unfilled Select Lists of 2015 to 2020.
Officials further said that officers selected for induction will be allotted IPS batches in accordance with the respective vacancy year and the applicable seniority rules under the Indian Police Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations.
The proposed induction is expected to provide long-awaited career progression to several senior JKPS officers who have remained in the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) due to delays in the promotion process. Without induction into the IPS, such officers are not eligible for promotion to higher ranks, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and above, resulting in many retiring before reaching senior leadership positions.
According to official figures, nearly 44 JKPS officers have been inducted into the IPS during the past three-and-a-half years. Prior to that, no inductions were carried out between 2011 and 2021 owing to prolonged legal and administrative hurdles, leading to a substantial backlog in promotions.
Under the existing IPS cadre structure, 67 per cent of IPS posts are filled through direct recruitment, while the remaining 33 per cent are earmarked for promotion from the State Police Service. The cadre also provides six DIG-equivalent and two Inspector General (IG)-equivalent posts for promoted JKPS officers who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria.
The August 3 UPSC Selection Committee meeting is expected to mark a significant step towards clearing the pending promotion quota vacancies, strengthening the senior leadership of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and fulfilling the long-pending aspirations of eligible JKPS officers. (KNC)
