Jammu: For the first time, Jammu & Kashmir’s Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre is without a single officer who was appointed in the service through induction.
With appointment of senior officer Ahfad-ul-Mujtaba as member of the prestigious Public Service Commission(PSC), J&K’s IPS cadre is left without any officer who was appointed in the service through promotion(induction). “All 65 officers of J&K’s IPS cadre are direct recruits,” an official told Kashmir News Observer.
The IPS officers are appointed to the service through direct recruitment and promotion.
The peculiar situation has arisen due to government’s failure to fill vacancies of induction quota arising in the past 10 years. As per the reports, government recently submitted a proposal for filling 28 vacancies of promotion quota.
The proposal was submitted after MHA determined 28 vacancies for four years- 08 for 2010, three vacancies for 2011, 08 vacancies for 2012 and 09 vacancies for 2013.
The process of filling vacancies in promotion quota came to halt from 2010 due to different issues including seniority dispute and litigation
Given his impeccable integrity and service record, Mujtaba, who was retiring in February 2021, was appointed as member of the PSC.
Going by the last cadre review exercise, the strength of J&K’s IPS cadre is 147. Of which, 80 posts are for direct recruits and 67 slots for promotees (inductees)
An official said that the Government of India could not determine vacancies beyond 2013 because it has not taken a call on whether J&K can induct local officers against 50 percent vacancies in state government, central deputation reserve, state deputation reserve and training reserve for 5- year period starting from 2014 to October 31, 2019 or its share should be reduced to 33 percent.
The special quota for J&K was extended from time to time by successive governments at the Centre, but not after the last such extension expired on 31 December 2013.
Under the quota, J&K inducted local officers against 50 percent vacancies in state government, central deputation reserve, state deputation reserve and training reserve (KNO).