Governance Issue: AAPMLA Jagroop Singh Gill Raises Concern over Delay in PPS-to-IPS Promotions
By Amrit Pal Singh/ Babushahi Network
Chandigarh, 03 June 2026:
Senior MLA Jagroop Singh Gill has expressed serious concern over the prolonged delay in promotions of Punjab Police Service (PPS) officers to the Indian Police Service (IPS) under the promotion quota and has urged the Punjab Government to take immediate steps to clear the growing backlog of vacancies.
Highlighting the issue, Gill stated that the Punjab Cadre of the IPS is authorized to have 52 promotion quota posts as of January 1, 2026. However, only 24 promotee IPS officers are currently serving against these posts, leaving 28 vacancies unfilled, which is adversely affecting the morale of deserving officers and the overall efficiency of the police administration.
According to available records, 16 vacancies have been allocated to the Select Lists for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, while 12 vacancies still remain unaddressed. In addition, six vacancies from the Select Lists of 2019, 2020, and 2021 continue to remain vacant due to procedural complications, retirements before appointment, and other administrative reasons. Furthermore, six additional vacancies are expected to arise during 2025 owing to the retirement of promotee IPS officers.
Gill emphasized that the promotion process is governed by the IPS Recruitment Rules, 1954, and the IPS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955, which clearly outline the mechanism for determining vacancies and preparing select lists. Despite these provisions, the process has been moving at an unacceptably slow pace, resulting in a significant accumulation of vacancies.
"The delay is not merely a service matter affecting individual officers. It has direct implications on the efficiency, leadership structure, and operational effectiveness of Punjab Police. Officers who have served the state with distinction deserve timely recognition and career advancement," Gill said.
He pointed out that delays have primarily occurred due to pending clearances in cases of provisional inclusion, retirements before appointment orders could be issued, and administrative bottlenecks in the preparation and approval of Select Lists.
To resolve the issue, Jagroop Singh Gill has called upon Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Home Department to undertake immediate corrective measures, including:
- Fast-tracking approvals and clearances in pending promotion cases.
- Ensuring timely preparation and finalization of Select Lists.
- Promptly carrying forward unfilled vacancies to subsequent Select Lists.
- Strengthening coordination between the State Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Maintaining transparency by providing regular updates to eligible officers regarding the status of promotions.
Gill stressed that filling the vacant IPS promotion quota posts would strengthen Punjab's policing framework and boost the morale of the force. He urged the government to treat the matter as a priority and ensure that deserving PPS officers are promoted without further delay.
"The state must uphold the principles of fairness, transparency, and administrative efficiency. Immediate action is essential to clear the backlog and ensure that Punjab Police has the leadership strength required to meet present and future challenges," he added.