Repatriation of IPS officer may trigger reshuffle in top rungs of J&K Police
Repatriation of the IPS officer Nitish Kumar (RR-99) from the Central deputation upon completion of his 5-year term is likely to trigger a reshuffle in the top rungs of the Jammu and Kashmir Police next month.
Currently holding the rank of Inspector General of Police in J&K cadre, Nitish Kumar will be returning from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Before proceeding on the Central deputation in January 2018, Kumar served as SSP and DIG in some districts and ranges in J&K.
Vidhi Kumar Birdi (RR-03), who proceeded on the Central deputation in February 2020 and was posted in the NIA, was posted as IG CRPF at the CRPF headquarters early this week. He too served as DIG in two ranges in the Valley before leaving for deputation.
Knowledgeable sources said that NIA had conveyed its NOC to Nitish Kumar’s repatriation upon the completion of his term.
Anand Jain (RR-99), who has served for 3 years and 8 months as the first head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in J&K, is likely to be replaced by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General (ADG).
Mukesh Singh (RR-96), who has served as IGP/ADGP Jammu zone since August 2019 is likely to get a new place of posting. Eligible since January 2021, he got the rank of ADGP in May 2021 but has been continuing as head of the Jammu Zone of J&K Police.
Similarly, Vijay Kumar (RR-97), who was posted as IGP Kashmir in December 2019 and designated as ADGP in July 2022, is also likely to get a new place of posting.
Since there is no IPS officer of the 1998 batch in J&K Police, none of the officers would be designated as AGP in 2023.
The year 2023 will witness the retirement of two senior most IPS officers of the J&K cadre. Shiv Murari Sahai (RR-87), who is on the Central deputation since October 2016 and is currently posted as Joint Secretary in the National Security Council Secretariat, is reaching superannuation on 31 March 2023.
Dilbag Singh (RR-87), who has been functioning as Director General of the Jammu and Kashmir Police since September 2018, is scheduled to retire from service on 31 October 2023.
According to well-placed sources, there is a strong possibility of a reshuffle in the top rungs of the J&K Police, including ADGs, IGPs and DIGs, in the month of January 2023. While a couple of IPS officers are likely to be deputed from the Centre, there could be an equal number of the Central deputations from the Union Territory of J&K.
