*Proposal to enhance promotional avenues of NG cadre gathering dust
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 11: Though nearly three months have lapsed since its formulation yet the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) on Cadre Review of the Jammu and Kashmir Police (Gazetted Service) has failed to submit its report to the Cabinet as consensus still eludes on certain important aspects. Moreover, the proposal regarding enhancing promotional avenues of non-gazetted cadre of JKP is gathering dust during the past quite long time because of lack of coordination between Home and Finance Departments.
In the Police Gazetted Service there is a long pending demand for carving out Higher Scales of pay on the pattern of KAS and J&K Accounts (Gazetted Service) and Home Department had even submitted a proposal to the Cabinet with regard to the Cadre Review of J&K Police (Gazetted) Service long time back.
This issue was hotly debated by the Ministers of both the coalition partners in the Cabinet meeting held on December 10, 2016 and because of divergent views the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti found it appropriate to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC).
Accordingly, vide Government Order No.1365 dated December 15, 2016, the General Administration Department constituted Cabinet Sub-Committee to examine the proposal regarding review of the strength and composition of Jammu and Kashmir Police (Gazetted) Service. Headed by Minister for Industries and Commerce and comprising of Minister for Health and Medical Education, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Minister for Finance, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Minister for Education, the Cabinet Sub Committee was directed to submit report in the next meeting of the Cabinet.
However, despite lapse of nearly three months the Cabinet Sub Committee has failed to even draft the report what to talk of its submission to the Cabinet as per the order dated December 15, 2016, reliable sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “lack of consensus among the members of the Sub-Committee on vital aspects is the main reason behind delay in finalization and submission of report to the Cabinet”.
“The delay in completion of assigned task is notwithstanding the fact that police officers are pinning high hopes on the report of Cabinet Sub-Committee for much awaited Cadre Review”, sources said.
Expressing inability to specify time-frame for completion of exercise, some of the Cabinet Sub-Committee members, when approached, said, “we cannot say when the Sub-Committee will be able to submit report to Cabinet as some issues are yet to be thrashed out”. Even during the past one month no meeting of the Sub-Committee could be convened because of non-availability of some of its members.
What to talk of Police Gazetted Service, the proposal regarding enhancing the promotional avenues of the non-gazetted cadre of the Police Department is also gathering dust during the past quite long time, sources informed.
Vide Government Order No. Home(P)-535 of 2015 dated November 26, 2015 a committee was constituted under the chairmanship of the then ADGP (Headquarters) Dr S P Vaid (presently Director General of Police) to examine the existing promotional avenues of the non-gazetted cadre of the Police Department including the constables and make suitable recommendations for enhancing their promotional prospects.
“On the receipt of the report of the committee, a formal proposal vis-à-vis recommendations relating to enhancement of strength of Selection Grade Constables from 25% (existing quota) to 50% and enhancing the grade pay of Selection Grade Constables from Rs 2100 to Rs 2400 was prepared for action in Phase-I”, sources said, adding the proposal was thereafter referred to Finance Department for agreement. However, the same is awaited”.
They disclosed that Police Headquarters has sent a number of reminders to the Finance Department but the latter has not responded even once thereby creating impediments in giving practical shape to the proposal regarding enhancing the strength of Selection Grade Constables and grade pay.
About other recommendations, sources said that proposal to increase posts at higher levels and earmarking quota for promotions to talented police officials would be considered in next phase. “However, no-time frame can be specified for the same especially in the light of hanging fate of Phase-I”, they added.
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