KATHMANDU, Sept 22: The provision mentioned in the draft of the proposed Armed Police Force Act is expected to have a significant impact on the career development of 800 officers. This situation has arisen due to changes in the tenure of positions from IGP (Inspector General of Police) to SP (Superintendent of Police) in the draft Act proposed by the government.

The omission of the tenure for the position of SP (Superintendent of Police) in the draft has affected the career development of 800 officers from the 12th batch. This will impact promotions for officers up to the ranks of Armed Police Inspector (Inspector) and Armed Police Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

In a discussion involving Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and others regarding the Armed Police Force Act, it was decided to set the tenure of Armed Police Superintendent (SP) at eight years, and the draft was prepared accordingly. However, after the bill reached the Ministry of Law and returned to the Ministry of Home Affairs, it was found that the tenure for the SP position had been removed from the draft. As a result, a police officer claimed that the career development of 400 DSPs and 390 inspectors would not only be affected, but their promotions could be completely halted. The affected police personnel are planning to first meet with Inspector General of Police (IGP) Raju Aryal to inform him about the removal of the SP position’s tenure.

"It will be a major blow to our career. This issue will raise questions for those considering joining the Armed Police Force. They may ask why they should enter an organization where there is no secure future for their career. Moreover, those already in the organization will also have to think about whether to stay or not," the officer said.

He stated that the injustice in this matter was not caused by the headquarters but likely by the ministry or some other entity, and they would request the head of the organization to rectify it. "We will express our grievances to the government through the chain of command," he said.

The Armed Police Force had proposed a tenure of three years for IGP, four years for AIG, five years for DIG, six years for SSP, and eight years for SP. "The tenure for all ranks is mentioned, but questions have arisen as to why only the SP's tenure was removed," the officer said.

However, while the ministry arbitrarily set the tenure for AIG at three years and SSP at eight years based on the organization's needs, removing the SP's tenure has created even more problems for promotions and career development.

"If the tenure for the SPs is removed, although some SPs are currently at level 4, more than half of those at level 4, along with 300 DSPs at levels 5, 6, 7, and 8, will only reach the SP position in the last two years of their service. This will become an even more serious problem than the promotion backlog we faced some time ago," the officer stated.

"Officers who were recruited in 2067 BS are still at the Inspector level. The impact on career development will extend even to those at level 16 currently in training," the officer said. According to him, if there are no changes in the current draft, Armed Police Force officers who become DSPs after 17 years will remain at the DSP level for another 17 years.

Some time ago, the Ministry of Home Affairs formed a six-member committee led by Undersecretary Jhakka Prasad Acharya to address the issue of career development in Nepal Police and Armed Police Force. The committee proposed that removing the 30-year service requirement all at once would impact those in the promotion line. Initially, they suggested adding six months of service for those retiring from Nepal Police after 30 years of service, with a further six-month extension later to align. They also recommended that the 30-year service requirement for the Armed Police Force be removed only after 2095 BS.

The committee suggested that the 30-year service requirement could be removed by providing three options within the Armed Police. It was advised that removing it only after 2095 BS would ensure that no one suffers any loss. The task force proposed that the 30-year service requirement could be removed after 14 years, considering career development for police personnel, the potential for reaching leadership positions, and minimizing any adverse impacts as much as possible.

If the 30-year service requirement is to be removed immediately, it was suggested to add more positions at higher ranks. Specifically, if the 30-year requirement is removed, the number of positions from SP to AIG should be increased. The committee recommended that implementing this fully would require at least 6 to 10 years. The Police Act is currently with the Ministry of Home Affairs and is yet to be presented to parliament.

Former AIG Narayan Babu Thapa of the Armed Police Force has also expressed the view that the tenure for the SP position should not be removed. According to Thapa, eliminating the SP tenure would lead to a backlog in promotions, greatly impacting the careers of DSPs and Inspectors. He emphasized the need to maintain the tenure.

"The Home Minister needs to deeply understand the implications of this. He must be aware of what the effects will be," said former AIG Thapa of the Armed Police Force. According to him, the SP position is a mid-level rank, and having it vacant for a long time will impact the career development of those below this rank. "Laws should not be made based on individual or group considerations," former AIG Thapa stated.

 
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