JAMMU: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an official order granting notional appointment to five officers of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State Police Service (SPS) into the prestigious Indian Police Service (IPS), along with all associated service-related benefits.
This decision comes in compliance with an order from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench, dated April 1, 2025.
Officers Appointed and Select List Details
The officers who have been elevated to IPS on notional grounds include:
- Sunil Dutt – Select List 2010, Position No. 2
- Abhay Kumar Mahajan – Select List 2010, Position No. 4
- Rupender Kumar Chalotra – Select List 2010, Position No. 6
- Rajnish Pran – Select List 2011, Position No. 3
- Ashok Kumar Sharma – Select List 2012, Position No. 1
All five officers have since retired from active service, but the MHA order ensures that they will now be entitled to all benefits, including pension and other post-retirement entitlements, in line with IPS norms.
MHA Order in Compliance with Tribunal Ruling
The move comes after years of legal pursuit by the officers and is seen as a significant administrative step to address pending cadre-related grievances from the time before the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory.
The notional appointments mean that while the officers will not return to service, their records will reflect IPS status retroactively, allowing access to pay grade adjustments, pensions, and other service-related benefits.
