Nearly 1,200 officers of Indian Police Service (IPS) have come under the scanner of the Home Ministry for non-performance, an official said Thursday.
The ministry has reviewed service records of a total of1,181 IPS officers in the past three years to check deadwood from thegovernment, he said, adding the numbers of officers under the lens could go upas such a review is a continuous process.
The review of service records was carried out under Rule 16(3) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits ) Rules, 1958 during2016 and 2018 to check non-performers, the official said.
The rule says that the central government in consultationwith the state government concerned may ask an IAS officer to retire in publicinterest by giving at least three months previous notice in writing or threemonths’ pay and allowances in lieu of such notice.
Of the total of 1,181 IPS officers, ten of them were recommendedfor premature retirement from the service in public interest, he said, withoutdisclosing the names of the officers concerned.
As many as 3,972 IPS officers are working across the countryagainst their total sanctioned strength of 4,940, according to a Home Ministrydata.
The Modi government has started the policy of reviewing theservice record of the IPS officers to check deadwood from the service, theofficial said.
However, no review of the officers’ service record wasundertaken during 2014 and 2015, he said.
“The periodical review help the government in assessingperformers and checking non-performers. Based on this review, performers areencouraged and non-performers are asked either to improve or face expulsionfrom the service in public interest,” the official said.
The Centre has also reviewed service records of 1,143 IASofficers during 2015 to 2018 and recommended premature retirement to fourofficers found lacking, the official said.