Panaji Cops want 5-year service rule eased for PSI promotion

PANAJI: With over 50% police sub-inspector posts (PSIs) vacant, Goa police have sent a proposal to the state government seeking a one-time relaxation in recruitment rules to fill vacancies to 100 PSI posts on promotion basis.

As per rules, to promote an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) to PSI, the ASI should have completed a minimum service of five years, but most do not meet the criteria.
“Presently, we have 230 PSIs against the sanctioned strength of 450 PSIs. It is pertinent to mention that police department is facing an acute shortage of PSI level officers, as a result all available PSIs are performing additional duties of unfilled PSI vacancies,” the police proposal stated.
“We are waiting for approval and once we get it, all the vacancies will be filled,” a senior officer said.
The ASIs are already drawing PSI salaries, so if they are promoted there won’t be any financial liabilities for the government, the senior officer said. “If an ASI is promoted, then more PSIs will be deployed at police station for investigation,” he said.
The proposal stated that as of July 31, 220 posts of PSI are vacant, of which 100 posts are to be filled by promotion and 120 by direct recruitment as per existing rules.
Presently, 262 ASIs in feeder grade are available in the department. However, they have not completed five years of regular service to become eligible for promotion as PSI on regular basis, the proposal stated.
Out of 262 ASIs, 39 ASIs have completed four years and two months, while 62 have completed two years and eight months of regular service, the proposal stated.