Relief for MP Police Officers: CAT Orders End to ‘Administrative Apathy’ Blocking Promotions

In a significant relief for police officers in Madhya Pradesh, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jabalpur Bench, has strongly reprimanded both the Central and State governments for prolonged delays in conducting cadre reviews, calling such inaction “administrative apathy” and a violation of officers’ constitutional rights.

Hearing a petition filed by the Madhya Pradesh Police Association, the Tribunal made it clear that conducting a cadre review every five years is not a mere formality but a mandatory obligation under the Indian Police Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954.

120-Day Deadline for Cadre Review

The CAT has directed the Centre and the State government to complete the additional cadre review process within 120 days, stressing that delays cannot be justified on grounds of bureaucratic lethargy or inaction.

The Tribunal observed that cadre review is a statutory duty and cannot be carried out at the discretion or convenience of the government.

Two Decades of Delay Hurt MP Officers

The Police Association informed the Tribunal that cadre reviews in Madhya Pradesh have been delayed for nearly 20 years, placing officers of the state at a serious disadvantage compared to their counterparts in other states. Due to this prolonged delay, several eligible State Police Service officers have been denied promotion and induction into the IPS, despite fulfilling all eligibility criteria.

The Association warned that if the delay continues, many officers would cross the upper age limit of 56 years, permanently losing their chance of induction into the IPS cadre.

Violation of Fundamental Rights

The Bench comprising Member (Judicial) Malini Ayyar and Member (Administrative) Akhil Kumar Shrivastava held that such delays directly infringe upon officers’ fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality and equal opportunity in matters of promotion.

The Tribunal termed the prolonged inaction as “playing with the future of officers” and issued the order in favour of State Police Service officers, calling the relief both necessary and overdue.

The petitioners were represented by advocates Pankaj Dubey and Aditya Khandelwal.

Boost to Promotion Prospects

The ruling is expected to unlock long-pending promotion avenues for Madhya Pradesh police officers and bring parity with other states, marking a crucial step toward administrative fairness and accountability.