Thaindian News

Kolkata, Aug 19 (IANS) The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Thursday declared null and void the promotion given to four senior police officers of West Bengal cadre last year.
The state government has decided to appeal against the CAT verdict, said Home Secretary Samar Ghosh.

Observing that the four officers were promoted to the Additional Director General rank in violation of the rules, the CAT said the IPS promotion order issued by the state government during the middle of 2009 was invalid.

The CAT verdict came after Inspector General of Police Anil Kumar moved the tribunal challenging the state government order and argued that the four officers were promoted by superseding him.

“In last year’s promotion order, Anil Kumar was made IG (Welfare) from IG (Armed police) while his junior Raj Kanojia was promoted to Additional Director General of Criminal Investigation Department from IG (Law and Order), A.K. Maliwal to Director Security, R.K. Pachnanda and Banibrata Basu to Additional Commissioner-I and II respectively.”

Later, I.G. (telecom) N.S. Nalwa also became a party to the case, said the officer.

The CAT also said both Kumar and Nalwa should be given proper promotion in the fresh promotion list.

State Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said: “We are yet to receive the verdict of the CAT, but if the CAT’s order goes against the government we will obviously move the higher court.”

He added: “Seniority is one of the criteria which is considered during giving promotion to police officers but not the only one. The service record is also considered during the process.”