Promotion to appease may bring chaos in police administration

Media reports have said that a proposal to promote 290 officers is being considered to ‘alleviate frustration’ among numerous police cadre officials without corresponding vacant positions in anticipation of the national elections.

However, concerns have arisen regarding the promotion of numerous police officials without corresponding vacant positions.

As reported in a newspaper yesterday, the proposal for promotion will be submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office through relevant departments, including the Ministry of Public Administration, and the final decision will rest with the prime minister.

Among the 290 police officers, 140 are earmarked for promotion to the rank of additional deputy inspector general (additional DIG), and 150 to the rank of superintendent of police (SP).

The ministry of home affairs is reported placing significant emphasis on the issue of promoting officials to the post of SP.

It is to be noted that earlier this month, a total of 221 deputy secretaries and officials of similar rank were promoted to the rank of joint secretary through two notifications.

Previously, a significant number of officers were promoted to the position of joint secretary, even when there were no available posts.

In July, three police officials were also promoted to the post of additional inspector general.

Subsequent to these promotions, additional promotions were offered in various other posts.

Since then, several police cadre officials have been seeking promotions, citing they were overlooked. As a response, the police headquarters submitted a proposal to the ministry of home affairs to promote 529 officers to supernumerary positions.

Sources within the ministry of home affairs have revealed that when the promotion matter was forwarded to the ministry of public administration, the ministry approved the promotion of 140 individuals to the position of additional deputy inspector generals (additional DIGs) and 150 individuals to the position of superintendent of police (SP) on temporary ‘supernumerary’ posts on 7 September.

We hope that the authorities concerned will refrain from promoting police officials solely for the purpose of appeasement and instead adhere to the police services ‘administrative structure.

Promotions should be granted based on the number of available vacant posts, with the primary consideration being the benefit that the people receive from them in return for the taxes they pay.