Tripura High Court Revokes Controversial Promotions

The Tripura High Court has nullified the promotions of 22 Tripura Police Service officers, ordering their reversion to inspector rank. This decision overturns a previous ruling that allowed promotions through age relaxation. The case was brought to court by 17 inspectors affected by the earlier decision.

The Tripura High Court has annulled the promotions of 22 officers of the Tripura Police Service grade-II, compelling them to return to their original positions as inspectors. This legal decision comes after a division bench overturned an earlier ruling by a single bench, said a lawyer on Thursday.

The incident arose after a writ petition from 22 inspectors, who sought an age waiver for their promotion, stalled for years. The Tripura Public Service Commission guidelines disallow promotion for officers over the age of 55. In January 2023, a single bench allowed the waiver, leading to the promotions.

However, a counter-petition was filed by 17 inspectors from Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, led by Jatindra Das, claiming the promotions resulted in discrimination. The division bench headed by Chief Justice MS Ramchandra Rao sided with the petitioners, instructing the government to revert the 22 officers and fill vacancies from the pool of all eligible candidates promptly.

(With inputs from agencies.)