Standing Orders

STANDING ORDER NO:09/2001

Subject:  Transfer of lower subordinates from Punjab Constabulary to Districts/Ranges.

Instructions:

Punjab Constabulary was created as reserve force in the year 1984 primarily to handle public order situations. The educational Standard for recruitment of Constables in Punjab Constabulary was kept lower than for the constables of District Police (Middle for P.C. as against Matriculation for District Police). It was also thought that the personnel recruited in Punjab Constabulary shall stay in Punjab Constabulary permanently till their retirement and will be promoted to the higher ranks within this organization. Later on educational standard for recruitment as constables in Punjab Constabulary was also raised from Middle to matriculation by equating it with the District Police.

The structural arrangement of Punjab Constabulary created following problems:-

1. Permanent stay in Punjab Constabulary to perform only one type of job started creating monotony and thereby frustration in the force.
2. Prolonged stay in Punjab Constabulary also made the force older in age and thereby ineffective in handling public order situations.

                          This Standing Order is being issued to set right these and other allied problems by streamlining posting/transfer policy from Punjab Constabulary to District/Ranges and vice versa.

1. FUTURE STRUCTURE OF PUNJAB CONSTABULARY

a) CONSTABLES

• Appointment in Punjab Constabulary shall be made only in the rank of Constable. The Selection Boards for recruitment, constituted under the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Punjab shall make selection of Constables from districts according to their share. The quota of districts in Punjab Constabulary has been worked out proportionate to the District Police Strength of Constables (Annex “A”). the appointment orders of these constables shall, however, be issued by the Dy: Commandant, Punjab Constabulary.
• The Constables shall work in Punjab Constabulary for a minimum period of 4 years. On completion of at least 4 years of service, a Constable shall become eligible for posting to a district of his domicile on seniority. However, if no vacancy is available in his home district, he shall be absorbed in another district preferably after obtaining his option.
• The Constables in Punjab Constabulary shall be eligible to be promoted to list “A” only. Total number of Constables on promotion list “A” shall not exceed 15% of the sanctioned strength of Constables of Punjab Constabulary at any given time as provided in the Standing Order, No:8 of 2001. The criteria for eligibility to promotion list ‘A’ shall be strictly followed as provided in the above mentioned Standing Order.
• The Constables on promotion list “A” on their transfer to Districts shall make part of the pool of constables on promotion list ‘A’ in that District. These constables shall also become eligible to compete for promotion list B-I in the District Police on the criteria provided by Standing Order, No:8 of 2001.
• The transfer of Constables from PC to districts shall be considered on administrative grounds so that their seniority as per rules/instructions vis-à-vis the District Constables remains intact.

b) HEAD CONSTABLES & UPPER SUBORDINATES

1. The Head Constables (HCs)/Upper Subordinates, i.e. ASIs, SIs & Inspectors shall be transferred to PC from Districts/Ranges for a period of 2 years according to their fixed quota worked out proportionate to their sanctioned strength in respective ranks (Annex-“B”)
2. On the completion of 2 years of service in P.C, they shall be reverted to their home Districts/Ranges on the provision of their substitutes by the Districts/Ranges. The period of 2 years in Punjab Constabulary shall, however, be computed after excluding period spent on long leave, training and foreign postings.
3. The transfer orders of HCs, ASIs and SIs from Districts/Ranges to PC shall be issued by the respective Range DIsG. However, transfer orders with respect to Inspectors shall be issued by CPO under the orders of the Inspector General.
4. The officers transferred to PC shall fulfill the following criteria.
   They shall be physically fit.
   They shall have neat and clean service record.
   They shall be of age as follows.

                          HCs…………………………..Below 40 years.

                          ASIs…………………………..Below 45 years.

                          SIs……………………………Below 47 years.

                          IPs……………………………Below 50 years.

v. For transfer to PC, the Range DIGs/CPO will develop a fair and rational system of rotation where by it becomes mandatory for every eligible officer (HC to IP) to serve in Punjab Constabulary for the given period. The system of seniority amongest the eligible officers shall be strictly followed while making selection in each rank. However, a minimum gap of 3 years shall be observed between two postings to Punjab Constabulary — the period to be computed from the date the officer had reported back on transfer from Punjab Constabulary to District/Range/other unit.

vi. The officers in the rank of HC and above transferred to PC shall maintain their seniority as per rules/instructions in their parent District/Ranges and their career prospects i.e training promotion etc. shall be governed by the lending authority.

2. ABSORPTION/PERMANENT TRANSFER OF EXISTING PUNJAB CONSTABULARY- STRENGTH IN DISTRICTs/                           RANGES.

i)                        All the Head Constables/Upper Subordinates presently on the strength of Punjab Constabulary shall be permanently transferred to Districts/Ranges. A quota for HCs/Upper Subordinates in Punjab Constabulary has been fixed on the basis of proportionate strength of each District/Range (Annex “B”). 

ii)                      The transfer of PC personnel shall be made in two phases to ensure smooth functioning of official work both in Punjab Constabulary as well as in District Police. Transfer of 50% senior most HCs/Upper Subordinates shall commence immediately, however, remaining 50% shall be transferred after one year. A corresponding number of Police Officers in the ranks of HC/Upper Subordinates shall be transferred to Punjab Constabulary from the District/Ranges in both these phases.

iii)                      Efforts shall be made to transfer HCs/Upper Subordinates to their Home Districts/Ranges. However, seniority shall prevail for adjustment in home District/Range, if the number of Punjab Constabulary personnel exceeds the sanctioned quota of a District/Range. Options shall be taken from Head Constables/Upper Subordinates for their adjustment in other Districts/Ranges.

iv)                        PC personnel who have not qualified departmental courses and have been promoted purely on adhoc/temporary basis shall be transferred to district Police in their substantive rank.

vi)                         The transfer of PC personnel to District/Ranges shall be considered on administrative grounds so that they retain their seniority vis-à-vis officers of Districts/Ranges as per rules/instructions.

3. WIRELESS STAFF.

                          The wireless staff of PC shall be merged with T & T cadre of the Punjab Police so that they become part of one unified provincial cadre. This will, however, be done by transfer of posts of wireless staff in P.C. to T & T Cadre of Punjab Police. These transfers shall, however, be considered on administrative grounds for determining their seniority vis-à-vis T&T staff under Police Rules/Instructions.

4. PERMANENT STAFF.

i)                         There shall be a permanent staff of P.C. consisting of Mounted Staff, Band Staff, Drivers, Mechanics, Drill staff and orderlies. The staff shall stay in PC permanently and shall not be transferred out of Punjab Constabulary. The detail is as under:-          

ii)                       Recruitment of permanent staff shall be made by the Commandant, against the vacancies of Punjab Constabulary.

iii)                      The officials of permanent staff shall be promoted on seniority cum fitness basis against their respective posts in each Branch on the recommendations of Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC). They shall not be required to undergo Lower/Intermediate/Upper Class Courses. They shall, however, be required to qualify specialized courses in their respective fields. Commandant, Punjab Constabulary shall develop specialized courses for the above mentioned Branches in P.C.

5.                      The Commandant/Battalion Commanders, Punjab Constabulary shall exercise all disciplinary powers under E & D Rules, 1975 against officers/officials posted to P.C.

6.                       This Standing Order shall repeal Standing Order, No:1 of 1984, its amendments vide this office Memo: No.10248-10300/Legal dated 12-12-1991 and all other instructions issued from time to time on the subject.