Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Jalandhar, In May this year, the Punjab Government decided to make the provision of 125 posts in Punjab Police for the state’s sportspersons who’ve excelled in the international arena. The recruitment process started last month, but it has caused a great deal of dissatisfaction among the sportspersons already employed by Punjab Police.
They allege that their interests have not been safeguarded in the recruitment process. This, they say, is caused by the “flawed” promotion policy of Punjab Police that came into effect in 2013. “The problem is that for the promotion purposes, the policy awards points for medals won in the All India Police Games, but fails to recognise any medals won in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, or even in the Olympics,” says an athlete.
It goes without saying that the Commonwealth Games or the Asian Games are much more competitive than the police departmental games and thus achievements in those events must be rated higher.
The second grouse of the sportspersons already serving with Punjab Police is that they haven’t been provided any age relaxation to apply for the post of DSP. “This has severely affected three stalwart sportspersons, who have won medals at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, but are unable to apply for the post of DSP because they’re overage,” says an athlete. It would be unfair if a younger sportsperson with lesser achievements and merit becomes senior to these sportspersons, he says.
Age limit
Head Constable Gurpreet Singh, 35, is a kabaddi player who won a gold medal with the Indian team at the Incheon Asian Games last year. He points out another anomaly in the promotion policy — the same number of points are awarded for both participation and winning medals in the international events! “So, 30 points are awarded to players who participate in the Commonwealth Games, 40 for participation in a World Cup, and 50 for participation in the Olympics,” he says. “But no further points are given to those who win medals at these prestigious events!”
Despite his gold medal, Gurpreet could not apply for the post of DSP as his age exceeds the mark of 28 years, set as age limit for the post of DSP. This means that a sportsperson with lesser achievement could become his senior. “My entire effort to win a medal at the Asian Games has gone waste,” said the 35-year-old.
ASI Rajwinder Kaur, a bronze medallist in judo at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, said that though sportspersons enjoy a 3% quota in every department, it was considered only during regular recruitments. “The Home Department should allow the Police Department to retain the sports quota vacancies and also to allocate them on an ‘as and when required’ basis to those players who become eligible with time,” she said.
“Many players who had become eligible for promotion even after a month of the regular recruitment held in 2011 are till date waiting for their turn,” said the 30-year-old judoka.
Navjot Chana, another judoka, won a silver medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. He has accumulated 1400 points through his achievements in judo, but is still serving as an ASI. The irony is that only 250 points are required to become eligible for the post of DSP!
Policy matters
Can’t something be done for top achievers like Chana, Rajwinder and Gurpreet?
In 2002, the Punjab Government had given double promotion to three Commonwealth champions —weightlifter Vikky Batta, judoka Bhupinder Singh and athlete Manjit Kaur. In 2010, the government had given age relaxation to three Commonwealth medallists, which allowed them to become DSPs. They were wrestler Palminder Cheema and athletes Manjit Kaur and Harwant Kaur.
This time, however, the government has refused to grant any relaxation in age or educational qualification to Chana, Rajwinder Kaur and Gurpreet Singh.
When contacted, Navjot Mahal, Secretary Sports (Punjab Police), said that the department has written to the Home Department regarding the ambiguity in the sports policy, and has also recommended the names of the above-named three sportspersons for promotion to the rank of DSP.
“Also, we are in the process of giving an increment to those players who are eligible for the next promotion but haven’t been promoted till date,” said Mahal.
New recruitment announced in 2015
DSPs: 10; Sub-Inspectors: 50; Constables: 65
How 125 posts were created
Sources have claimed that the Home Department had abolished 85 posts of Constable to create the 125 new posts. The department had 250 posts of Constable and 7 posts of Sub-inspector lying vacant in the sports quota. Apart from retaining 65 posts of Constable, it had abolished 65 other posts to create 43 posts of Sub-inspector. Also, it had abolished 20 more posts of Constable to create 10 posts for Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
