Chandigarh: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Chandigarh Bench, has directed the Centre to induct retired Haryana Police officer Raj Kumar Walia into the Indian Police Service (IPS), ruling that retirement from state service before the issuance of an appointment notification cannot be the sole ground for denying him promotion.
In an order dated October 29, the tribunal allowed Walia’s application after noting that he had figured in the 2022 IPS select list but was left out of the appointment notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The tribunal directed the Centre to issue his induction order with notional appointment from the due date corresponding to the 2022 select list. The intervening period between his retirement from the Haryana Police and appointment to the IPS will be treated as continuous service, subject to vigilance clearance and completion of other formalities.
Why Raj Kumar Walia Was Left Out of the IPS Appointment
Walia joined the Haryana Police as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in 1990 and rose through the ranks during his career. He was promoted to Additional Superintendent of Police in March 2021 and retired from state service on January 31, 2026, after attaining the age of 58.
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The selection process for IPS induction from the Haryana Police Service covered vacancies from 2020 to 2025. The selection committee met on April 28, 2026, to prepare the year-wise select lists, which were subsequently approved by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on May 14.
Walia was placed second in the 2022 select list and was assessed as “Very Good” by the committee. However, when the MHA issued its appointment notification on May 21, only three officers from the 2022 list were appointed against four vacancies. Walia’s name was marked as “retired from Haryana Police Service”.
Centre’s Argument and Tribunal’s Reasoning
The Centre opposed Walia’s application, relying on Regulation 9(1) of the IPS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955. It argued that only serving members of the State Police Service could be appointed to the IPS and that inclusion in a select list did not automatically create a right to appointment.
The tribunal rejected the objections, referring to earlier judicial and tribunal decisions on the rights of officers who retire while a delayed promotion or selection process is underway.
It also cited a previous CAT order dated October 15, 2025, in a similar matter, along with subsequent cases in which retired officers were granted IPS appointments despite having superannuated before the notification was issued.
The Bench comprised Judicial Member Suresh Kumar Batra and Administrative Member Rashmi Saxena Sahni.
What the Tribunal Has Directed
The CAT has issued the following directions:
- IPS induction: The Centre must issue Walia’s appointment order to the IPS.
- Notional appointment: His appointment will take effect notionally from the due date corresponding to the 2022 select list.
- Continuity of service: The period between his retirement from Haryana Police and IPS appointment will be treated as continuous service, subject to vigilance clearance and other formalities.
- Continuation in service: He will be allowed to continue until he reaches the prescribed superannuation age for IPS officers.
- Implementation deadline: The authorities must complete the exercise within four weeks of receiving a certified copy of the order.
The application was allowed, with the tribunal making no order as to costs.
A Wider Issue in Haryana’s Delayed IPS Promotions
Walia’s case is part of a wider issue arising from the delayed induction of Haryana Police Service officers into the IPS. The selection exercise undertaken in April 2026 covered vacancies across six select-list years, from 2020 to 2025.
The MHA’s May 21 notification appointed 15 Haryana Police Service officers to the IPS. Several other officers who had retired from state service were not included in the appointment notification, prompting legal challenges.
In August 2026, the CAT’s Chandigarh Bench also ruled in favour of retired Haryana Police officers Virender Singh and Suresh Kumar in separate cases, holding that retirement during a delayed selection process could not, by itself, defeat their claim to IPS induction.
The latest order in Walia’s case reinforces the tribunal’s approach to such disputes, placing emphasis on an officer’s eligibility and position in the selection process rather than treating retirement before the appointment notification as an automatic bar.
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