New J&K Police Service Recruitment Rules notified

Jammu, Oct 11: The J&K government Friday notified new “J&K Police (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 2024.”

Under the new recruitment rules, appointment to the JKP Service will be made by “direct recruitment; or by promotion; or partly by direct recruitment and partly by promotion” as per the specified ratio and the manner.

All the posts under direct recruitment will be filled through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) through its Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) or Selection Committees of the (J&K) Home Department.

For this purpose, J&K Home Department will also constitute two Selection Committees, including one headed by the Chief Secretary.

The government, after the interval of every five (earlier it was three) years or at such other intervals, as may be necessary, will re-examine the strength and composition of the cadre of the Service.

The cadre strength of the Service of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, divided between J&K and Ladakh UTs, will continue to remain “Joint Service or Cadre” till the decision regarding separate cadre for the Service in the Union Territory of Ladakh, is taken.

The appointment by promotion in respect of the three specified categories of posts will be made on the recommendation of the Commission (JKPSC).

New recruitment rules provide for reservation while making appointments either by direct recruitment or by promotion, to the eligible categories following the provisions of the J&K Reservation Act, 2004 and the rules and orders, as in force.

As per the notification of the J&K Home Department, new recruitment rules have been introduced by the J&K Lieutenant Governor, in the “exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India”, thus repealing “The J&K Police (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 2002.”

Notwithstanding such repeal, any appointment or order made or action taken under the rules so repealed will be deemed to have been made or taken under these rules, it has been specified.

As per notification, these rules will come into force from the date of their publication in the Govt Gazette.

Rules specify that the (JKP) Service will comprise the “persons recruited from time to time following the provisions of the J&K Police (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 2002, and holding such posts on a substantive basis on the commencement of these rules, and such other persons as may be recruited to the service from time to time following the provisions of these rules.”

STRENGTH OF SERVICE

The authorised permanent and temporary strength of the cadre and the nature of the posts included therein will be determined by the Government, from time to time and will, at the constitution of the Service under these rules, be such as specified in Schedule-I (which deals with the cadre strength of the Service).

The govt may create temporary posts in the cadre of the Service for a specified period as may be considered necessary from time to time.

“The government shall, after the interval of every five years or at such other intervals, as may be necessary, re-examine the strength and composition of cadre of the Service and make such alterations therein as it deems fit,” rules specify.

They provide that the cadre strength of the Service of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, bifurcated in terms of SRO 935 and SRO 937 dated October 28, 2019, between the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh, after enforcement of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, will remain Joint Service or Cadre, in terms of SO 428 dated December 21, 2021, issued by the General Administration Department, till the decision regarding separate cadre for the Service in the Union Territory of Ladakh, is taken by the competent authority.

As per rules, no person will be eligible for appointment or promotion to any post in any class, category or grade in the Service “unless he or she possesses the qualification as laid down in Schedule-II” and fulfil other per-requisites of recruitment as provided in “new rules and orders for the time being in force.”

PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTMENTS

Appointment to the service will be made in the ratio and the manner specified for each post in Schedule II. All the posts under direct recruitment will be filled through the commission as per the rules or orders of the Government issued for the purpose. All posts to be filled by promotion will be filled up through the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) of the Commission or Selection Committees of the Department.

J&K Home Department will refer vacancies in the direct or promotion quota to JKPSC and Departmental Promotion Committee, as the case may be in terms of SRO 166 of 2005 dated June 14, 2005.

JKPSC TO RECOMMEND APPOINTMENT BY PROMOTIONS

Rules provide that the appointment by promotion in respect of three specific categories of posts will be made on the recommendation of JKPSC.

These categories will include Junior Scale (Deputy Superintendent of Police) and Time Scale (Superintendent of Police) of the General Cadre; Deputy Superintendent of Police and equivalent levels in Telecommunication, Ministerial, Stenography, Photography, Police Transport Workshop and Arms and Ammunition Cadres and thirdly, Superintendent of Police and equivalent levels in Telecommunication, Ministerial and Stenography Cadres.

SELECTION COMMITTEES TO OVERSEE RECRUITMENT, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS

J&K Home Department, under newly framed rules, will constitute two Selection Committees.

The First Selection Committee will be headed by the Chief Secretary and will include the Administrative Secretary, Home Department; Director General of Police, J&K as Members and Special Secretary or Additional Secretary, Home Department dealing with the Police Gazetted Service as Member-Secretary.

This committee has been tasked to consider cases and make recommendations in case of placement of eligible officers of the General Cadre in the Selection Grade-I and II of Superintendent of Police, Super Time Scale- Level 13A (131100-216600) of the pay matrix and Super Time Scale- Level 14 (144200-218200) of the pay matrix, or equivalent posts.

Placement of eligible officers of Telecommunication, Ministerial and Stenography cadres in the Selection Grade (Non-functional) of Superintendent of Police - Level 12 (78800-209200) of the pay matrix will also be overseen by this committee.

Besides, it will consider and recommend the promotion of eligible officers of Telecommunication as the Director Police Telecommunication - Level 13A (131100-216600) of the pay matrix.

The second Selection Committee will be headed by the Administrative Secretary, Home Department and will include the Director General of Police, J&K, senior-most Additional Director General of Police, as Members and Special Secretary or Additional Secretary, Home Department dealing with the Police Gazetted Service as its Member-Secretary.

Its mandate will be to consider cases and make recommendations regarding placement of the eligible officers of the General Cadre in the Selection Grade (Non-functional) of Junior Scale - Level 10A (56600- 179800) of the pay matrix] and also those of Telecommunication, Ministerial, Stenography and Police Transport Workshop cadres in the Selection Grade (Non-functional) of Deputy Superintendent of Police - Level 10A (56600-179800) of the pay matrix.

As per rules, the persons appointed to the service through direct recruitment will be on probation for two years and will be regulated in terms of provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956 and the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Regulations, 1956.

Those appointed to the service by direct recruitment will have to undergo “such training from time to time during probation and to pass during the period of probation such departmental examinations) as the Government may prescribe.”

However, the government may exempt either wholly or partly, from such training or departmental examination, persons who have passed a departmental examination or undergone training declared by it (government) to be equivalent to a departmental examination or training, prescribed under these rules.

The seniority of the members of the service will be regulated under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956. The Home Department has been asked to maintain an up-to-date final seniority list of all the members of the service.

Rules specify that if the government finds it necessary or expedient to do so, it may, by an order, for reasons to be recorded in writing, relax any of the provisions of these rules concerning any class, category of persons or post. The discretion exercised should be bonafide and the commission should concur with the relaxation.