The Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday decided to place the Punjab Police (Amendment) Ordinance 2018 before the state Assembly for enactment in the forthcoming budget session.

This decision was taken during the Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday, said an official spokesperson of the Punjab government.

The Ordinance, promulgated by the Governor on 2 January, had replaced Deputy Inspector General (DIGs) with Inspector General (IGs) in the ranges as part of the government’s efforts to rationalise the police structure in the state, added the spokesperson.

Under the provisions of the new Act, Section (4b) of the Act of 2007 would be substituted as “the officer of subordinate ranks of district police, armed police, intelligence, investigation and technical and support services shall form separate cadres.

“Seniority of each cadre shall be maintained at the state level. Transfer of a member of one cadre to another cadre shall not be allowed,” said the spokesperson.

However, the officer of subordinate rank working in the special operation group may be transferred to district police after the successful completion of the fixed tenure in the special operation group as specified by the government, added the spokesperson.

In case an officer of subordinate rank is rendered completely or partially disabled during operations or training, the period of fixed tenure can be relaxed by the Director General of Police (DGP) for the purpose of transfer to district police, added the spokesperson.

The subordinate rank officer who opt for transfer to district police, if transferred, his seniority shall be placed at the bottom of the officers holding the same rank in the district police.

It was further added that Section 9 would be substituted as “Each police range shall be headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police or Deputy Inspector General of Police who shall supervise the police administration of such range, and report to the Director-General of Police directly or through any superior officer as and when posted”.