The issue of delayed promotions in the Police force have been further aggravated following a decision by the National Police Commission (NPC) to promote 14 Inspectors to the Chief Inspector rank under a recently created ‘Over staff basis’. The promotions were made on September 27 and they were backdated to be effective from October 2, 2017.
However, as a result groups of Inspectors from various batches in the Police who have been awaiting promotions for a long time have decided to file Fundamental Rights Petitions at the Supreme Court in the coming week.
Currently over 40 such cases filed by various rankers within the Police are languishing in courts due to the failure to grant Police officers their promotions in a timely manner. The new FR cases will only increase the already unresolved issues Police sources said. The NPC is said to have also received close to 200 appeals by aggrieved officers following this revelations.
According to Police sources it is the first time promotions have been granted under such a basis and majority of the 14 are said to be from the President’s, Prime Minister’s and Minister’s Security Divisions. They claim the 14 have been granted promotions unfairly without facing a promotion board and above seniors within the rank. “They are placed way below the seniority list” a Police insider said adding that of the 14 three officers despite claims of being absorbed to the regular cadre in 1999 had been absorbed in 2002. They also alleged that the basis for providing promotions to the group is unclear and has left many others disgruntled and disillusioned with the NPC.
However, clarifying the decision, Secretary of the NPC Saman Dissanayake said the NPC made the promotions based on a directive by the Human Rights Commission following an appeal by the officers to the HRC claiming they had been unfairly denied promotions. Their claim was that their time as reservists meant they were not allowed to sit for the promotion boards held thereby denying them the opportunity to be promoted. “The HRC agreed and therefore they appealed to the NPC after which we decided to grant them the promotions” he said. According to the ‘Over staffed basis’ which was newly formed where if there are vacancies in the rank above selected officers from the rank below are promoted to these positions provided they have the necessary qualifications. “Officers who have not for any unfair reason got their promotions are added to this basis and they are automatically promoted when vacancies arise” he further clarified.
Sources say IGP Pujith Jayasundara had vehemently opposed the decision but had been compelled to carry it out after being summoned by the Constitutional Council recently for not following several directives made by the NPC.
Dissanayake confirmed the NPC has received a number of appeals following the decision to grant the promotions and are currently studying them.
Currently around 2,000 Inspectors who have completed the required duration in the rank continue to await their promotions.