In a significant end-of-year administrative move, the Punjab government has announced a major reshuffle within the state police force, promoting a total of 17 officers across various ranks. The promotions, sanctioned by the Punjab Home Department, came into effect from the first day of the new year, January 1.
Top-Level Promotion: Kaustubh Sharma Elevated to ADGP
The most notable promotion is that of Inspector General Kaustubh Sharma, a seasoned officer from the 2001 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS). He has been elevated to the prestigious rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). The official order, issued on December 31, confirms his promotion to the Level-15 of the Pay Matrix.
This restructuring, however, also highlighted the state's adherence to strict vigilance protocols. The order revealed that the names of two officers, Gautam Cheema and Paramraj Singh Umranangal, were kept in a sealed cover on the recommendation of the screening committee. This action was taken due to pending criminal or disciplinary proceedings against them. The sealed cover will only be opened once these proceedings are finalized. Notably, Umranangal retired from service on December 31 itself.
Promotions to Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General Ranks
In a separate order also dated December 31, the state government promoted four police officers to the rank of Inspector General (IG). The officers who have been promoted are Jagadale Nilambari Vijay, Rahul S (on central deputation), Bikram Pal Singh Bhatty (on central deputation), and Rajpal Singh.
This order also followed the sealed cover procedure for another officer. The name of IPS officer Inderbir Singh was kept in a sealed cover for promotion to the IG rank due to pending proceedings against him. His case will be reviewed after the finalization of those proceedings.
In another wave of promotions, the Punjab Home Department elevated 12 officers to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG). The list of promoted officers includes:
- Snehdeep Sharma
- Sandeep Goel
- Jasdev Singh Sidhu
- Dhruv Dahiya
- Sandeep Kumar Garg
- Gulneet Singh Khurana
- Akhil Chaudhary
- Amneet Kondal
- Gurpreet Singh
- Rupinder Singh
- Sarabjit Singh
- Harpreet Singh Jaggi
Similarly, in this batch, the name of Vivek Sheel Soni was placed in a sealed cover due to pending disciplinary proceedings, with a decision to be made upon their conclusion.
Implications of the Major Reshuffle
This large-scale promotion drive, effective from the start of 2025, is seen as an effort to fill senior positions and streamline the police hierarchy in Punjab. The simultaneous use of the sealed cover procedure underscores the government's dual focus on career progression and accountability. It ensures that officers with unresolved disciplinary or criminal cases do not get promoted until they are cleared of all charges, maintaining the integrity of the promotion process.
The promotions are expected to bring fresh leadership and experience to key positions within the Punjab Police, potentially influencing law enforcement strategies and administrative efficiency in the state in the coming year.
