In a significant ruling affecting the state police hierarchy, a division bench of the Tripura High Court has set aside the promotions of 22 Tripura Police Service (TPS) grade-II officers and directed that they be reverted to their original rank of inspector. The order overturns a January 2023 decision of a single bench that had allowed their elevation through a one-time age relaxation.
The matter arose after 22 inspectors approached the High Court seeking relaxation of the upper-age limit for promotion, arguing that the process had been stalled for several years. The single bench accepted their plea, and the state government subsequently promoted all 22 officers to TPS grade-II.
Under Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC) norms, officers aged 55 or above are not eligible for promotion. Seventeen inspectors belonging to the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste categories, led by Jatindra Das, later challenged the single bench order before the division bench. They submitted that they were deprived of their rightful promotional opportunities because the promoted officers had already crossed the prescribed age limit.
Senior advocate Sankar Lodh, representing the petitioners, told reporters that the division bench headed by Chief Justice MS Ramchandra Rao reversed the earlier ruling after hearing all parties. According to Lodh, the court held that the promotions granted on the basis of age relaxation were contrary to the governing rules.
The division bench has cancelled the promotions and directed the state government to restore all 22 officers to their original post of inspector. It also instructed the government to fill TPS grade-II vacancies strictly from among eligible candidates in accordance with TPSC guidelines.
The decision is expected to trigger a fresh round of promotions in the Tripura Police Service, adhering to statutory norms and ensuring compliance with the prescribed age criteria.
