CHENNAI: The promotion panel had recommended, the department accepted, and even the chief executive of the State signed and issued the order promoting inspectors of police as deputy superintendents. But four months later, 117 inspectors were still waiting for their promotion orders as the State went through a period of political uncertainty.
The Government Order (No. 52) was issued on November 11, a day after the then number 2 in the State Cabinet, O Panneerselvam was entrusted the portfolios handled by the then chief minister J Jayalalithaa who was hospitalised. Jaya died on December 5 that led to an upheaval.
“Thereafter, the political situation here changed so much that no one spared the time to address our case,” one of the inspectors whose name figured in the promotion list told Express.
DSPs form the lower part of the middle-rung and are key to the efficient operation of the home department. In most districts in Tamil Nadu, they are in charge of more than two subdivisions - each subdivision has 10-15 police stations. “Because of delays in postings, south and central zone have been having vacancies at the DSP level for over a year. There are five posts lying unfilled in the Q Branch, the important wing that deals with extremist threats. The situation is no different in the CB-CID and Vigilance,” a source in the police department added.
According to sources, the 2015-2016 promotion panel had prepared the list of inspectors from the 1996 batch who were eligible for promotion as DSP. This was submitted to the home department last June when Ashok Kumar was the DGP. “The list was accepted by the department, and was forwarded to the chief minister. The chief minister, then Panneerselvam, signed the GO,” a source said.
To take the process forward, the placement panel headed by the State police chief and comprising the ADGP (Law and Order), ADGP (Administration) and IG (Intelligence) had to meet and take formal steps. “However that meeting has not yet been convened as the IG (Intel) post is vacant, which has to be filled before the panel is convened. All that is delaying our promotion,” rued an inspector from the list.
The inspectors hope that the orders would come soon, now that situation had stabilised.