Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 20: The Delhi High Court has directed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to grant the rank of Inspector to retired Sub-Inspector Rajbir with effect from August 17, 2017, even though he took voluntary retirement later that month.
Rajbir had joined the CRPF as a constable on June 27, 1983, and retired from service on August 31, 2017, under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). At the time of retirement, he was serving as a Sub-Inspector and was due for promotion to the rank of Inspector.
However, despite being eligible, his promotion was not processed as his complete service records were unavailable at the relevant time. The High Court observed that his name was excluded from the list of promoted officers solely because his service records and Annual Confidential Report (ACR) had not reached the concerned battalion in time.
In 2021, Rajbir approached the Delhi High Court seeking recognition of the Inspector rank. He reportedly clarified that he was not seeking any financial benefits and only wanted the rank restored as a matter of honour.
A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kshetrapal and Amit Mahajan noted that the CRPF and other respondents did not dispute the facts presented before the court.
The bench was informed that, as per rules, the ACR and service records should have been forwarded to the new battalion within 15 days of transfer from the previous battalion. Rajbir’s counsel, advocate KK Sharma, argued that the delay in sending the records from the earlier battalion resulted in his exclusion from the promotion list despite his eligibility.
The court also noted that Rajbir had successfully completed the Inspector promotional course conducted between September and November 2013. He was later transferred from Battalion No. 231 to Battalion No. 41 in December 2015, and his name was included in the seniority list issued on December 1, 2015.
Although the promotion list was published on August 17, 2017, Rajbir’s name did not feature in it. He subsequently retired voluntarily on August 31, 2017.
In its May 15 order, the court stated that since the petitioner was seeking only the grant of rank without any financial consequences, it was appropriate to direct the CRPF to confer the rank of Inspector on him with effect from August 17, 2017.
The court has granted the CRPF eight weeks to implement the order, thereby recognising Rajbir as having held the rank of Inspector before his retirement and correcting the administrative lapse that denied him the promotion.