KATHMANDU, June 28: Home Minister Janardan Sharma has announced a slew of measures to bring reforms in the police organizations and in the service delivery of the Home Ministry.
In his first press conference after assuming the portfolio of Home Ministry under Sher Bahadur Deuba cabinet, Minister Sharma announced to complete the stalled promotions in Nepal Police and Armed Police Force within a month. He also announced creating two posts within the Nepal Police -- Assistant Head Constable and Senior Sub-inspector--to ensure that police personnel do not have to serve in the same position for a long time.
Currently, some 4422 positions in Nepal Police are lying vacant due to the delay in promotion. These include three Additional Inspectors General, 4 Deputy Inspectors General, 18 Senior Superintendents of Police, 16 Superintendents of Police, 91 Deputy Superintendents of Police and 111 Inspectors. Similarly, 2531 positions are vacant in the APF due to the delay in promotion.
Home Minister Sharma also announced to end the dispute surrounding the service period of police personnel as there are three different ways to determine the service period.
Police personnel retire either after 30 years of service or at the age of 58 whichever comes first. Higher ranking police officials are also retired if they fail to secure promotion to the next level with a certain number of years.
Addressing the press conference, Minister Sharma said the organizational structure of Nepal Police, APF, National Investigation Department and District Administration Office will be restructured within the next five months in line with the new federal set up. He also vowed to end unhealthy practice that exists among police personnel to exert political influence to get promotions.
Besides developing a calendar for recruitment, promotion, capacity-building and promotion in police organizations, Minister Sharma announced to develop a predictable system based on specific criteria for promotions and transfers. “An arrangement will be made to initiate the process of promotion within a month of a position falling vacant,” he said.
While pledging to develop transparent criteria for selection, Minister Sharma said he will take initiatives to increase the number of police personnel participating in the UN missions. “Security personnel won't be used in work other than security,” he said, while adding that the ministry would review the deputations for VIP security.
Keeping in view the controversy surrounding the distribution of state honors, the home minister said such honors will be distributed only on the basis of objective criteria. There have been widespread criticism that such honors are distributed arbitrarily.
Among other things, Minister Sharma has announced to launch special operation against those individuals and groups involved in activities that undermine Nepal's sovereignty. He also announced to launch special programs to break the cartel that exists in the public transport system.