Jaipur: The Rajasthan government recently issued posting orders for five officers promoted from the Rajasthan Police Service (RPS) to the Indian Police Service (IPS), all belonging to the 2016 batch. Among them are a husband and wife couple, reflecting the increasing presence of women in senior police roles. However, the Personnel Department’s order contained an embarrassing error — female IPS officers were addressed as “Mr.” instead of “Mrs.” or “Ms.”
Details of the New Postings
The officers assigned new roles include:
- Piyush Dixit as Superintendent of Police (Security), Jaipur
- Vishna Ram as Superintendent of Police-1, CID (CB), Jaipur
- Pushpendra Singh Rathore as Superintendent of Police-2, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jaipur
- Kamal Shekhawat as Superintendent of Police (Vigilance), Jaipur
- Avneesh Kumar Sharma as Commandant, 2nd Battalion, RAC, Kota
Notably, IPS officer Kamal Shekhawat, a female officer, was mistakenly addressed as “Mr.” in the order, a mistake that also appeared on the official civil list on the Personnel Department’s website.
Recurring Mistakes in Official Documents
This is not the first time such errors have occurred. Previous Personnel Department orders have also mistakenly used “Mr.” when referring to female officers. These orders are circulated among high-level officials, including the Governor, Chief Minister, Director General of Police, Chief Secretary, and even the Government of India, making the oversight highly visible.
Authorities have acknowledged such mistakes in the past and have issued revised orders to correct them, but the recurrence points to a need for more careful review before publication.
Significance and Call for Sensitivity
These mistakes, though administrative, highlight a lack of sensitivity in recognizing the gender identities of women officers serving in high-ranking positions. Accurate representation in official documents is important for respecting the officers’ identities and for promoting gender equality within the police force.
Read also: 12 IPS Transfers in 9 Days: Why Did Rajasthan Govt Shunt DCP Amit Jain to APO After 44 Days?
