The top-heavy Punjab Police has turned heavier. For, the State Government on Wednesday promoted its three IPS officers of 1988-batch to the rank of Director General of Police taking the total number of DGPs to 11, against just two sanctioned posts.
As per the orders issued on Wednesday, Punjab’s Bureau of Investigation director Prabodh Kumar, additional DGP (Prisons) Rohit Choudhary, and ADGP, Armed Battalion, Jalandhar, Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota have been promoted as DGPs. The officers will continue working on the same posts.
Already, Punjab has eight police officers in the DGP-rank, out of which the senior-most IPS of 1984-batch Samant Kumar Goel is on central deputation, and has recently been elevated as the head of country’s intelligence wing, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
Now, there are 10 DGPs in the state. However, Punjab had set a record of sorts in 2017, by giving DGP rank to as many 12 IPS officers.
Besides the 11 DGPs, Punjab has another 17 additional director general of police against seven sanctioned posts, and over 35 Inspector Generals (IGs) against 19 sanctioned posts.
According to the state’s authorised strength of IPS officers, there are only two cadre posts of the DGP. The remaining are serving either on ex-cadre posts — additional posts created as per requirement by a state police force, or are in posts held by junior ranked officers in the past.
After the officer holding ex-cadre post of the DGP superannuates, the post automatically cease to exist. And the chief minister has the powers to create ex-cadre posts of the DGP rank.
It was during the militancy period of the 1980s and 1990s, when ex-cadre posts were created to appoint officers at operational levels required to meet extraordinary circumstances.
One officer in the DGP rank, DGP (Railways) Jasminder Singh of 1986-batch, will superannuate in August.
Currently, 1987-batch IPS officer Dinkar Gupta is the state DGP, after superseding 1985-batch Mohd Mustafa, 1986-batch Jasminder Singh, and 1986-batch S Chattopadhayaya.
Besides, 1987-batch C Sita Rami Reddy — posted as DGP (Investigation), Lokpal, 1987-batch MK Tiwari — posted as DGP-cum-MD, Punjab Police Housing Corporation, and 1987-batch VK Bhawra — posted as DGP (Intelligence) are in the DGP rank.
