Karnataka Police Superintendents Demand Confirmation of Long-Pending Promotions
In a significant development within the Karnataka police force, twenty-six officers currently serving in the rank of superintendent of police (SP) have formally written to the state's chief secretary and the Director General & Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP). Their urgent request is to confirm their promotions as superintendents of police (SP civil non-IPS), which have been pending since the year 2023. This bureaucratic delay has not only affected these serving officers but has also led to a concerning precedent where nine other officers of SP rank retired from service without the government ever confirming their promotions.
Career Progression and Promotion History
These superintendents of police began their careers by joining the police force as sub-inspectors. Through years of dedicated service, they were promoted to the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) after completing thirty years of service. Their positions as DSPs were formally confirmed in 2015 following approval by the departmental promotional committee under Rule 42. The next significant milestone came in November 2023 when they were promoted to the rank of SP under Rule 32, marking a key advancement in their law enforcement careers.
Legal Challenges and Administrative Hurdles
The confirmation process hit a major roadblock in December 2023 when a group of direct DSPs—police officers who enter the force as DSPs after clearing the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) examinations—approached the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT). These officers challenged the gradation list that facilitated the promotions of the non-direct DSPs. In response, the promoted SPs themselves approached KAT to question these objections, leading to a tribunal ruling in favor of all thirty-five promoted police officers. The tribunal explicitly directed the government to confirm their promotions under Rule 42.
However, the state government escalated the matter last year by approaching the high court through a writ petition, challenging the KAT order. This legal maneuver has left the entire matter pending adjudication, creating uncertainty and frustration among the affected officers. The prolonged legal battle has effectively stalled the confirmation process, leaving the promotions in administrative limbo.
Concerns Over Government Priorities and Historical Precedent
A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed deep concern about the government's apparent priorities. "The fundamental question is why the government is paying more attention to the objections raised by direct DSPs while neglecting the legitimate promotions of twenty-six superintendents of police," the officer stated. "Such an example of promotion delays affecting senior officers was never witnessed in the entire history of the Karnataka police department."
The officer further emphasized that the promotions of these SPs were conducted legally, based on a valid gradation list and in strict accordance with the rules and guidelines established by the government itself. "If the government ultimately decides against confirming the promotions of non-direct DSPs, it would create an unfair advantage for direct DSPs, allowing them to secure further promotions much sooner than established norms would typically permit," the officer added, highlighting potential consequences for career progression within the force.
Addressing the timing of the legal challenge, the officer pointed out a critical inconsistency: "The gradation list in question was not challenged in either 2019 or 2021, so why has it become an issue now, specifically when these well-deserved promotions are at stake?" This question underscores the frustration and confusion surrounding the delayed confirmation process, which continues to impact the morale and career stability of dedicated police officers who have risen through the ranks based on merit and years of service.
