Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 14, 2010:
The State Government's order issued in 2007 for promotion of 38 Inspectors, Subedar Majors and Subedars to the rank of MPS Grade-II has been quashed by a ruling of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench.
The ruling was passed after hearing a writ petition filed by Lourembam Deben, Thingom Ramgopal and Th Nungshi challenging the promotion.
The 38 officers were promoted after a DPC was conducted by the Manipur Public Service Commission.
In their writ petition, the petitioners questioned the powers and competency of the DPC associated with the Commission, to upgrade and downgrade the grading of ACRs of candidates already recorded by the competent authorities in accordance to the prescribed procedure.
Even as the three petitioners have won the Chief Minister's Police Medals and the President Police Medal for Meritorious Service besides making commendable contributions in tackling insurgency, they were placed at serial numbers 78, 68 and 64 in the combined seniority list issued by the Home Department.
Altogether 41 posts of MPS Grade-II were vacant in 2006.Accordingly, the Government initiated due procedure to fill up the vacant posts by way of promotion.
After hearing the case on September 17 and again on November 20 last year, Justice Ashok Potshangbam issued a judgement on March 12 this year quashing the Government's promotion order.
The High Court further directed the State Government to conduct a fresh DPC within three months.
However, promoted officers may continue to occupy their present posts until a new DPC is conducted, mentioned the order.