Chandigarh, June 8
Future promotions for Inspectors in the Chandigarh police will be slowed as the Chandigarh Administration has sought a clarification from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) if some kind of reservation in promotions for Scheduled Tribes has to be observed.At present, Chandigarh has a reservation for Scheduled Castes, but not for Scheduled Tribes. At least three DSPs are scheduled to retire in the next 10 months creating vacancies for three Inspectors to be promoted. One post of DSP is presently lying vacant.
Till the matter is decided, no fresh promotion can take place. This will have a cyclical affect on the force as no Sub-Inspector can be promoted to Inspector till Inspectors are promoted.
The issue has been raised by Inspector B.S. Negi, who is from a Scheduled Tribe. He has petitioned to the Administration that some reservation for Scheduled Tribes should be followed, as is the case with Scheduled Castes.
So far, the Union Territory has no such policy and the matter has been referred to the MHA. Officials say the matter is under consideration while they refuse to comment on who is competent to decide on the issue.
Among those immediately in line for promotion are Mr Inderjit Singh, acting as DSP since January, Mr Arjun Jaggi, Mr Parmod Kumar, at present on a UN mission, Mr Shivraj Sidhu, Mr Sandal Singh, Mr J.S. Cheema and Mr Prem Malik.
In the general category Mr Negi is junior not only to these Inspectors, but a few more, like Mr Vijay Kumar and Mr Satbir Singh. If Mr Negi gets promotion on the basis of reservation, he will jump the queue. Officials say these are sensitive matters and the National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is also involved. A decision will be taken after a thorough study.
Inspectors awaiting promotions are of the opinion that the case must be decided soon as DSP is the highest post for them. The first vacancy among DSPs will arise when Mr S.C. Abrol retires in July. Mr Daya Nand retires in November while Mr Subhash Sagar retires in March next.