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Bhubaneswar: With the allotment of mere 2 IPS to Odisha cadre in 2019, the vacancies at the level of IPS in the State has risen to 72 by the end of last year, when the grim fact is Odisha has the 2nd largest IPS vacancies in the country.
The vacancy rate in 2020, however, had eased marginally to around 37 per cent from around 38 per cent in the year 2019.
As per the data shared by Union Home Ministry in the Lok Sabha today, the sanctioned cadre strength for the State stood at 195, the men-in-position stood at 123. In absolute number, the total IPS vacancies in the State rose to 72 vis-a-vis around 71 in 2019.
Data shows increased intake of IPS officers over the years in the State as the sanctioned IPS cadre strength for Odisha was 188 till 2019 as against 195 in 2020. In the last three years, the Union Home Ministry had allotted 10 IPS recruits to the Odisha cadre.
EVOLVING SCENARIO
By the year 2022, the present in-position IPS strength In Odisha would shrink to around 113, as the State will see as many as 10 retirements, informed highly placed sources in the State home department.
REASONS BEHIND HIGH VACANCY
Odisha becoming the second State in the country with regard to IPS vacancies is not because the direct IPS recruit size in Odisha over the years has fallen, but for non-filing of the promotion quota to IPS cadre from the State police services.
As per sources, the promotion-quota vacancies had increased to 57 vis-a-vis of 48 in 2010. The rise in vacancies has been attributed to the non-availability of appropriate officers at the DSP level in Odisha for graduating to the IPS cadre.
WHY 'SUITABLE DSP' CRUNCH?
A DSP level officer should have a minimum stint of 8-years in the rank to become eligible to graduate to the IPS rank. For nearly a decade Odisha government has stopped direct recruitment to DSPs. As a consequence, an inspector-level official had to wait for getting promoted to DSP rank.
However, as per sources, what was witnessed is by then he/she is well past the maximum age limit of 54 years – the age bar to become eligible for promotion to IPS level.
COP(ING) THE PROBLEM
"Odisha could see higher cadre allotment from the Centre, provided the State Government transfer its promotion quota to the Centre and ask it to go for more direct recruitment via UPSC. Once the State develops its wherewithal to fully utilise the promotion quota, it could re-align the cadre vacancies then, explained a senior police official.
