J&K Govt notifies new rules to determine seniority of Police officers

Srinagar, Nov 3: The Jammu and Kashmir government has issued a fresh notification to revise the rules for determining the seniority of police officers upon their promotion or appointment.

This has replaced the earlier provision under the Jammu and Kashmir Police Rules, 1960.

According to the notification (SO 283) dated October 30, 2025, issued by the J&K Home Department under sub-section (3) of Section 43 of the Police Act, 1983, the government has substituted sub-rule (2) of Rule 111 of the Police Rules to clearly define how seniority among officers—whether promoted or directly appointed—will be determined.

As per the new rule, officers appointed or promoted to any rank will take seniority in the order in which they are appointed or promoted. In cases where several officers are appointed or promoted on the same date, direct recruits will be placed first in order, followed by those appointed through promotion.

"For directly appointed candidates who are required to pass a course or departmental examination for confirmation, their inter-se-seniority will be determined based on the aggregate merit secured during selection and the basic training course, with both carrying equal weightage," reads the notification issued by the order of J&K Lieutenant Governor.

"For officers who qualify the basic training course at a later stage as reappear candidates, or those deputed for training in a subsequent batch, or those who fail in the confirmation test and are confirmed later, their inter-se-seniority will also be decided on the same basis—aggregate merit in selection and training—but they will be placed at the tail end of their batch," it reads.

Additionally, in cases where two or more officers secure equal aggregate marks, seniority will be determined by their date of birth, and the older officer will be placed as senior.