Bilal Bashir Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 13 (KNB): 2008 Kashmir Police Service (KPS) batch officers while talking to Kashmir News Bureau have alleged gross discrimination in terms of salaries and promotions to their counterpart to their Kashmir Administrative Officer (KAS) colleagues. They said ever since their appointment in 2008 their pay grade of Rs 4800 was never hiked nor any promotion was given compared to KAS.
A KPS officer while talking to Kashmir News Bureau, on condition of anonymity said that the 2008 KPS batch played an important role from time to time in maintaining law and order in Kashmir, he said in 2008, 2010, 2013 (at the time of Afzal Guru’s execution) and recently in 2016 agitation the 2008 KPS batch showed exemplary services, however, no hike in basic grade pay was given neither any promotion.
Another KPS officer on condition of anonymity said that government is playing with the talent and hard work of the police officers. He said Unlike KAS officers, the KPS officers have no union as unionism in Jammu Kashmir Police Department is banned. We don’t have any grudge with the KAS officers but we want government to adopt same yardstick for both the cadres,” he said.
Pertinently, the level of disparity between KAS and KPS officers can be gauged from the fact that SRO 386, which addresses all concerns of KAS officers is not applicable to State Police (Gazetted) officers.