Decks cleared for posting IGs as head of ranges

CHIEF SECYLED PANEL CLEARS PROPOSAL; THE COMMITTEE HAS ACCEPTED THE SUGGESTION OF THE DGP THAT DIGS CAN ALSO HEAD A RANGE

CHANDIGARH: The proposal of the state government to post Inspector General of Police (IGP) rank officials at all seven ranges has cleared all hurdles with a chief secretary-led committee of officers giving its nod to the move. Now, DIG rank officials are heading ranges and IGPs are heading zones.

The committee has submitted its recommendations that will be placed on the agenda of the next Cabinet meeting after which the government will issue a final notification. A police reshuffle will result.

The committee has accepted the suggestion of DGP Suresh Arora that DIGs can also head a range. This will address the grievance of PPS officers.

In June, CM Captain Amarinder Singh had announced the proposal to pull out officers of the rank of DIGs from the field. He had said he wanted IG-rank officers at the helm of all seven ranges — Patiala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Border and Rupnagar.

MINISTERS HAD OBJECTED TO MOVE

The Cabinet had referred the proposal to the committee on November 17 after a few ministers objected, claiming that the proposal, if implemented, could spoil chances of officers promoted to the post of DIG from the lower ranks to head a range.

“The new system will be akin to a Commissionerate system where officers of the rank of IGP or DIG can be posted as commissioner. It will provide equal opportunity to the DIGs as well,” an officer, who is member of the committee, told HT.

In addition to the chief secretary, additional chief secretary, home, and principal secretary, finance, were also part of this committee.

Rural development minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa had objected strongly to the proposal, saying that it would adversely impact the career prospects of officers coming through Punjab Police Service (PPS) cadre.

He had said that the move would curtail chances of these officers of serving in the field. State finance minister Manpreet Badal and technical education minister Charanjit Singh Channi were also against the proposal.

The amended proposal has not gone down well with PPS officers.

“Only a few DIGs were made commissioner of police in recent years. As of now, no DIG is heading the three commissionerates in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar. When you have more than 40 IGs, why will the government pick DIGs. The best idea to compensate the Punjab Police Service Offices will be be to streamline the promotion processes,” said a DIG rank officer, who has risen through the ranks from a inspector.