Plea against proposed promotion test for the head constable post

Sources in the know said, “Majority of the constables, who filed the plea are from the 2005 batch. Earlier they had approached senior police officers. So far constables were promoted on the basis of seniority. But last year, the police department decided to promote 70 per cent of the eligible constables on the basis of seniority, 25 per cent with the B-1 test and 5 per cent based on sports quota or achievements. Constables above 40 years and with three years of service experience are eligible to appear in the B-1 test. About 25 per cent of constables were against this, claiming most of their competitors are young. The applicant constables give the reference of previously promoted constables on the basis of seniority instead of any test.”

The matter took a political twist when local MP Kirron Kher had urged the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to intervene in the matter. She sent a letter to him urging that promotions of constables as head constables (HCs) should happen on the basis of seniority on June 8.

The letter had read, “A delegation of police personnel met me. I was told that Chandigarh Police is in the process of promoting the constables through the B-1 process in which a constable up to the age 40 years and having three years of experience is eligible to appear for the promotion test. However, most of the constables in Chandigarh Police are above 40 years of age and have around 15 years of service experience. They cited a strong apprehension that they will not be able to compete with the young constables in the written and physical tests. I am also of the opinion that promotions in the police force should be on the basis of seniority and merit.”

The concept of B-1 test was introduced during the tenure of former DGP (UT) Sanjay Beniwal in 2019. The concept was also introduced three decades back but dropped later.