Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 8: High Court has directed the Home Secretary, Director General of Police and IGP Jammu zone to consider the case of Usha Khar for out of turn promotion to the post of Inspector retrospectively.
The direction has been passed in a petition filed by Usha Khar. The petitioner was appointed as Sub Inspector on December 17, 1991 and in the year 1997 when she was posted as SHO Women Cell, Udhampur, she was recommended for out of turn promotion to the post of Inspector by the then Chief Minister along with one Selection Grade Constable Mohd Hanif, No. 32/U.
Her case for special promotion to the post of Inspector was also recommended by the then Inspector General of Police on the basis of ‘outstanding record’ vide No.10425/ZPHQ/J/97 dated 29.04.1997. Thereafter, the Director General of Police forwarded the case of petitioner to the Home Department for issuance of necessary order.
It was contended by petitioner that while the case of petitioner was pending consideration before the respondents, number of out of turn promotions were granted. One such promotion was in favour of one Abdul Gaffar Malik, who too was recommended by the then Chief Minister and was promoted to the post of Inspector from Sub Inspector vide order dated 01.02.1999.
Not only this, Mohd Hanif, SGCT, who was also recommended along with the petitioner by the then Chief Minister, was also accorded out of turn promotion and presently he is serving as Sub Inspector.
After hearing both the sides, Justice Tashi Rabstan observed, “the plenary reading of a Government circular issued in the year 1990 would reveal that out-of-turn-promotion/accelerated promotion would be given to those employees who exhibit exemplary/outstanding performance during militancy related activities”.
“In the present case, the appellant claims to have displayed exemplary courage, who at the risk of her life prevented a temple at Bandipora from being desecrated and burnt by unruly mob of about 3000 people”, Justice Rabstan said.
High Court disposed of the petition with a direction to the respondents to consider the claim of petitioner for her out-of-turn-promotion to the post of Inspector retrospectively, if her case is on the same lines as that of Mohd Hanif and if there is no other legal impediment. “Let this exercise be done within a period of two months from the date a copy of this order is served upon the respondents”, the High Court said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel