Policing The Trust Ceiling

J&K’s two ruling parties manage an uneasy peace over how high non-IPS officers can rise in the police set-up

- Naseer Ganai

Officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Police should get the grade and the position, but not the rank. A difference must be maintained between officers of the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the J&K Police Service (JKPS),” says Ashok Kaul, BJP’s general secretary (organisation) in J&K. “The services would be doomed if JKPS officers became IGPs without induction into the IPS.” That’s the crux of the rift caused within Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling PDP-BJP coalition over the creation of a separate cadre service—with enhanced promotion avenues—for “direct- recruit” officers of the 1.2-lakhstrong J&K Police. When the home department’s proposal was approved by a cabinet sub-committee last week, it was evident the BJP’s will had prevailed over the home department’s original proposal.

The proposal that the home department had come up with last year envisaged a Kashmir Police Service (KPS) whose officers could be promoted to DIG and IGP ranks irrespective of whether they are inducted into the IPS. This would be on the lines of the Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS), whose officers are appointed as administrative secretary, a post equivalent to IGP in terms of the pay grades.