Constables' promotion test to be re-conducted
Punjab's director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini has nullified the promotion-oriented basic proficiency (BP) examination of constables, held on July 15, following reports of cops posted in certain "politically influential" districts indulging in malpractices to pass the test.
Punjab's director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini has nullified the promotion-oriented basic proficiency (BP) examination of constables, held on July 15, following reports of cops posted in certain "politically influential" districts indulging in malpractices to pass the test.

While the test will now be re-conducted before August 25 under the supervision of a new committee, the DGP has directed additional director general of police (intelligence) HS Dhillon to identify the officers who had "allowed irregularities" to take place so that "appropriate action can be taken against them independently," police sources said.
The decision to invalidate the examination, in which 3,700 cops appeared, was taken after a meeting of the police top brass, which had received reports that certain senior police officers in various districts allegedly allowed the constables to use unfair means in order to score high marks.
While constables of certain districts had performed exceedingly well, others' performance was not good. The test is held annually to determine the promotional prospects of constables to the rank of head constable. This year, there are just 283 vacancies, making the competition extremely tough.
Police sources say the DGP shot off a dossier to zonal inspector generals (IGs), senior superintendents of police (SSPs) and police commissioners across the state, reminding them of the importance of the BP test.
"It is the sacred duty of the officers to conduct it (BP test) in a completely fair and impartial manner," Saini has stated.
The communique states that there was no complaint of unfair means adopted by the intelligence and the Punjab Armed Police cadre. "The DGP has been apprised of the malpractices of the advantage given to favoured candidates in getting unfair promotions," the communique adds.
The Lower School Course for the training of the selected candidates will now start on September 1. Earlier, it was scheduled to begin on August 1.
"All officers should be well-advised to be absolutely fair and transparent in both the recruitment and the conduct of BP test, which are important for the force," says the communique.
The police top brass has decided that the fresh BP test will be held "centrally at the PAP" on the same day under the supervision of "officers of known fairness."
The new six-member committee will be headed by ADGP (armed battalions) GS Sahota as chairman; while IG (Jalandhar zone) Gurpreet Deo, commissioner of police (Ludhiana) Ishwar Singh, DIG (PAP) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, Khanna SSP Inderbir Singh and Rupnagar SSP Jatinder Singh will be its members.