Goa Government Begins Process to Fill Vacant Deputy Superintendent of Police Posts
The Goa state government has initiated the process to fill the vacant posts of direct deputy superintendent of police (DySP), which number around 30 positions. The personnel department has moved the necessary file for approval, marking a significant step in addressing the staffing shortfall in the state's police force.
Background: Cancellation of Direct Recruitment and Court Interventions
In 2024, the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC) cancelled the direct recruitment process for 28 posts of DySP. The state government later informed the Bombay High Court that it had decided to scrap the direct DySP recruitment altogether. This move came amidst legal challenges and ongoing debates over recruitment methods.
Recently, the state government promoted 19 DySPs to the position of superintendent of police (SPs), a decision aimed at streamlining the hierarchy within the police department. In an effort to create a level playing field for police inspectors (PIs), the government also granted them a 5-year relaxation in the age limit for the DySP recruitment process.
Current Strength and Historical Recruitment Policies
The sanctioned strength of DySPs in Goa is approximately 65, including 2 posts reserved for ex-cadre personnel. Of these, 44 positions are allocated to the Goa police, with the remainder belonging to the Indian Reserve Battalion. The breakdown includes 27 posts designated for promotions and 38 for direct recruitment.
Since 1997, the state government has followed a policy of filling 80% of DySP posts through promotions, with the remaining 20% reserved for direct recruitment. Currently, all direct-recruitment posts are vacant, while all promotion-based posts have been filled, highlighting the imbalance in the system.
Legal Challenges and Officiating Promotions
In April 2021, the Bombay High Court admitted a petition filed by several police inspectors challenging the practice of filling DySP posts solely through promotions. The court ruled that the filling of these posts through direct appointment would be subject to its final orders in the ongoing petitions.
As a result of this legal intervention, 25 police officers received "officiating promotions" to the DySP rank on January 1, 2022. For gazetted officers in the Goa government, such promotions are valid for only one year, after which they require the concurrence of the GPSC to continue in their positions.
Recent Developments and Government Actions
After the terms of the 25 officiating DySPs ended, the government moved a file to the GPSC seeking consent to extend their tenure by another year. In December, the government informed the Bombay High Court that it had cancelled the selection and recruitment process for DySPs through direct recruitment, effectively halting the ongoing process.
This decision was challenged by PI Paresh Nevalkar and eight others, who moved the High Court to contest the government's move to directly recruit DySPs and sought the cancellation of the related advertisement and selection process. The legal battle continues as the government now seeks to fill the vacant posts through renewed efforts.
