Bengaluru: As many as 26 police officers, currently serving in the rank of superintendent of police (SP), have written to the chief secretary and the DG&IGP, requesting them to confirm their promotions as superintendents of police (SP civil non-IPS), pending since 2023. Nine other officers of SP rank retired from service without govt ever confirming their promotions.These SPs, who joined the police force as sub-inspectors, were promoted as deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) with 30 years of service, and were confirmed as DSPs in 2015 after their departmental promotional committee approved them under Rule 42. They were promoted as SPs in Nov 2023 under Rule 32.In Dec 2023, a few direct DSPs — police officers who clear the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) exams and join the force as DSPs — moved Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT), challenging the gradation list. The promoted SPs approached KAT questioning the objections, and the tribunal passed orders in favour of the 35 promoted cops. It also directed govt to confirm them under Rule 42. However, govt last year approached the high court, challenging the KAT order vide writ petition. The matter is pending adjudication.“The question is why govt is paying more attention to objections of direct DSPs and neglecting the promotions of 26 SPs. Such an example was never seen in the history of Karnataka police. Moreover, the promotions of these SPs were legally made based on a valid gradation list and according to the rules/guidelines set by govt itself. If it decides against the promotions of non-direct DSPs, it will help the direct DSPs in getting further promotions much sooner against set norms,” a senior police officer said, adding, “The gradation list was not challenged in 2019 and 2021, so why now?”
