SENIOR POLICE OFFICIALS SAY THE MERGER WILL SET A SYSTEM IN PLACE, CURRENTLY NONEXISTENT, FOR PROMOTION AND TRANSFER OF CHANDIGARH POLICE DSPS, WHICH CAN ONLY HAPPEN ONCE THEY ARE A PART OF DANIPS
From page 01 CHANDIGARH: There’s been a row over a home ministry (MHA) proposal to merge the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) cadre of Chandigarh Police with that of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Services (DANIPS), with even the Punjab chief minister opposing the idea.
The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has proposed the merger of the Chandigarh Police deputy superintendent of police (DSP) cadre with the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Services (DANIPS). There are at present 23 sanctioned posts of DSPs in Chandigarh police with 11 are held by officials of the Chandigarh cadre and 10 by DANIPS.
RATIONALE BEHIND THE PROPOSAL
Senior police officials say the merger will set a system in place, currently non-existent, for promotion and transfer of Chandigarh Police DSPs, which can only happen once they are a part of DANIPS. The police officials are permanently stationed in Chandigarh once they are recruited at the assistant sub-inspector (ASI) level.
WHEN WAS THE PROPOSAL INITIATED?
Anuradha Gupta, an IAS officer from the Haryana cadre, was UT home secretary when a DSPs deputation met her to ask for promotion to the rank of superintendent of police (SP). As no such provision existed then and SPs came to the city on deputation from New Delhi, Gupta proposed the merger for the first time.
WHY ARE SOME OFFICERS AGAINST THE PROPOSAL?
Some Chandigarh Police officers don’t fancy the idea of leaving the comforts of the city and move to other UTs. Then comes the question of seniority – once the merger happens they will be junior to their DANIPS counterparts as they are recruited as ASIs whereas the former, say in Delhi Police, are recruited a higher level as sub-inspectors.
WILL THE MERGER BE A GOOD MOVE?
The merger, many police officers say, will be in the interest of the local police officers as more openings will be created for promotions to SP or even DIG ranks.
Transfer to other UTs should also not be such a big issue for the DSPs, they say.
WHY IS THE PUNJAB CM AGAINST THE PROPOSAL?
Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh has opposed the move, saying Chandigarh is the capital of Punjab and a disputed territory as of now. He has called for continuing the existing pattern of all Chandigarh UT posts being shared between Punjab and Haryana in a 60:40 ratio. The merger will dilute the stake of Punjab in Chandigarh, making the CM a likely target for rival parties Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party for working against the interests of the state.
WHAT NEXT?
DANIPS now is a proposal put forward by MHA for comments and observations up to May 19, after which it will be sent to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for approval. From there, it will go to the finance and then the personnel ministries and finally to the Union Cabinet for clearance.
It has also been learnt that inspectors and police officials in line for promotion to posts of DSPs in Chandigarh are contemplating legal action if the proposal is implemented.