Manipulation suspects to the appointment of State Top Cop

Union Home Ministry directs State Govt. to take up immediate remedial action

By Rinku Khumukcham

Imphal June 1, 2012: At the outset of the state home minister G Gaikhangam’s strong statement to streamline the state police force into a discipline force, a serious manipulation to the appointment of State Top Cop has been traced.

An official source says – appointment of Manipur-Tripura IPS cadre of 1982 batch Shri Ratnakar Baral as the successor of the then DGP Shri Y. Joykumar has seriously violated the Supreme Court verdict, which directs the state government to select the post of State Director General of Police from amongst the three senior most officers of the department who have been empanelled for promotion to that rank by the UPSC.

DGP Shri Y Joykumar was replaced by Shri Ratnakar Baral on January 5 this year as according to the directives of the Chief  Election Commissioner Shri SY Quraishi.

            One serious problem arises in the State police Department is the promotion of 6 more IPS Officers to the grade and scale of the Director General of Police. The appointment is the violation of the Rule 11(7) of the IPS Pay Rules, 2007. It says “Performa promotion at DGP level is allowed in the ratio 1:1.”

After Shri Ratnakar Barral, IPS  M:T cadre of 1982 batch had been appointed as the DGP of Manipur on Jan 5 this year, the State Government has given him pay scale of DGP.  4 other Manipur Tripura Cadre IPS Officers who are senior to him namely Shri JC Dabas, Shri Rajinder Kumar, Shri Sahid Ahmad and Shri Khinya Ram  has been promoted to the same Pay Scale by an order of the State Govt. dated 27th Jan 2012. And one more IPS Officer senior to Shri Barral, namely Shri MK Das also promoted to the same pay scale of DGP by a Govt. order dated 27th February 2012.

            The apex pay scale for Director General of Police is Rs 80,000 (Fixed). The State Government has given altogether 7 IPS Officers the same pay scale of the Director General of Police. They are: 

1.      Shri Y. Joykumar Singh, IPS 1976 batch,

2.      Shri MK Das, IPS 1977 batch,

3.      Shri JC Dabas, IPS 1977 batch,

4.      Shri Rajinder Kumar, IPS 1979 batch,

5.      Shri  Sahid Ahmad, IPS 1979 batch ,

6.      Shri Khinya Ram, IPS 1981 batch and

7.      Shri Ratnakar Barral, IPS 1982 batch.

Among them Shri JC Dabas recently retired and the three IPS officers Shri Rajinder Kumar, Sahid Ahmad and Khinya Ram are on Central deputation.

In a confidential letter sent to the State Government by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which is with us, it has been mention that promotion of the 6 IPS officers to the grade and scale of DGP is the complete violation of the Rule 11(7) of the IPS Pay Rule 2007.

On further investigation into this matter to find out what went wrong, it has been found out that the State Govt. has violated the Supreme Court’s judgment for selection of the Top Cop post. According to the ruling, the DGP of the State shall be selected by the State Government from amongst the three senior most officers of the Department who have been empanelled for promotion to that rank by the UPSC on the basis of their length of service, very good record and range of experience for heading the force.

When ECI directs the State Govt. for replacement of DGP Shri Y. Joykumar Singh during election time, the State Govt. authority had brought up the name of 5 provable IPS Officers including Shri R. Baral for the said post. It has also been found out that the name of Shri MK Das who is 2nd senior most IPS of the State has been excluded. Later, when Shri Baral was appointed for the top Cop Post, the other five IPS Cadre who are senior to him ultimately deserves the pay scale enjoyed by him.

It can also be noted that as according to the provision of the IPS Pay fourth amendment Rules, 2011 it is stated that, “ Provided that for the purpose of calculating the number of posts other than cadre posts in the DG grade in HAG+scale (RSs 75500- annual increment @ 3%-80,000) all cadre posts in this rank including DGP- Head of Police shall be taken in account.

Provided further that no ex- cadre post of DGP (Head of Police Force) in apex scale of Rs. 80,000/- shall be created.”

The appointment of Shri Ratnakar Baral and 5 other IPS officers to the grade and scale of Director General of Police in the IPS Apex Scale receives strong intervention from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. In intimation to the state, the Union Home Ministry directed to take up immediate remedial action and apprise this Ministry of the same.