RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 3: IPS officers with a minimum of 14 years of service will be eligible for appointment at the level of DIG at the Centre. They do not need to be empanelled at the centre according to existing rules.
The personnel and training department of the union home affairs ministry notified the same on February 23 this year after the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal of the home affairs ministry to remove the panel at the level of DIG with immediate effect and complete the relevant amendments to the existing IPS tenure policy.
The development has simplified the process of central deputation of an IPS officer as earlier only empanelled IPS officers were eligible for appointment to the posts in the central government and the process of empanelment was lengthy. It used to take at least one year for verification of papers and complete the process of empanelment due to big numbers.
With the simplification of the process, the Centre will have a bigger size of the bridge of officers available for central service though the amendment will not automatically allow the DIG to come to the Centre. They still will have to be put on the offer list for central deputation which will be decided by the states and the Centre in consultation.
The rule will also help increase the number of IPS officers of the rank of DIG for central deputation to the huge number of vacant posts in Central Police Organizations (CPOs) and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). According to data available from various CPOs and CAPFs, out of 252 posts reserved for IPS officers at the DIG level in the Centre, 118 (nearly half) are vacant. IPS officers have a quota of 40% in CPOs and CAPFs. In November 2019, the Centre had written to the states proposing to reduce this quota to 50%, saying that more than 60% of the posts are vacant as most of the states do not spare their officers.
The notification, however, provides IG-level IPS officers to be empanelled for central deputation. Whatever was earlier applicable for the central deputation of DIG level appointments is now for deputation of IG level officers only.
IPS officers are empanelled for the central deputation on the recommendations of Central Police Establishment Board headed by union home secretary having special secretary (internal security), IB director, DGs of BSF and CRPF as members. The joint secretary concerned in the ministry of home affairs acts as secretary of the board. Earlier home ministers used to give approval in the respect of DIG level and ACC in the respect of IG level officers.
Now after the path was paved for central deputation of DIG without empanelment, the role of the home minister in giving approval has gone. Now the recommendation of the board will be submitted to ACC for approval.
