VASCO
In police lines and barracks across the State, a quiet resentment is gaining voice. For many in the constabulary, a uniform worn for 20-25 years still carries the same single stripe — or none at all.
Meanwhile, officers who enter the force through higher cadres move up the ladder in a matter of three to five years. The contrast has not gone unnoticed.
Demanding workload
Constables — the foot soldiers of the department — handle the daily grind of law and order, night patrols, bandobast duties, crime prevention, traffic regulation, VIP security and emergency response.
They are the first to reach accident sites, the last to leave riot-prone zones, and the constant presence in every public event. Yet many say that when it comes to career progression, they remain invisible.
“It is painful to complete over two decades of service without a single promotion,” said a senior constable with several years in uniform. “We face extreme weather, public pressure and operational risk. But there is no clear, time-bound promotion system for us.”
Imbalance in structure
Several personnel, requesting anonymity, described what they called a deep imbalance in the structure. While officers recruited through competitive examinations enter a defined promotional hierarchy with assured avenues for elevation, constables depend largely on limited vacancies and slow-moving departmental processes.
The result, many claim, is stagnation that stretches into retirement.
There are constables who retire in the same rank in which they were appointed in their early twenties. For them, the issue is not merely about designation — it is about dignity, financial progression and recognition of experience.
Another constable on request of anonymity said representations and requests have been made to higher ups seeking a transparent and time-bound career progression policy. “We are not asking for undue favour. We are asking for fairness. If officers can have structured promotions, why can’t constables have assured advancement after a fixed number of years?” he questioned.
Personnel have proposed models such as assured career progression after 10, 15 or 20 years of clean service, or promotions linked to seniority-cum-performance benchmarks. Some have also sought the creation of additional intermediary ranks to ease congestion at the bottom.
Prolonged stagnation
Administrative experts warn that prolonged stagnation in the lower ranks can quietly erode the foundation of any disciplined force.“When the base of the hierarchy feels overlooked, motivation declines. Over time, that impacts efficiency and public service delivery,” said a former senior administrative official familiar with personnel reforms.
Within the force, morale is often an unspoken currency. Promotions are not merely financial increments — they are symbols of institutional acknowledgement. A system perceived as uneven risks widening the psychological gap between the ranks.
Officers within the department have not issued an official statement on the concerns. However, internal discussions on restructuring promotional avenues are said to be underway. Whether these discussions translate into policy reform remains to be seen.
Movement in service
For now, the constabulary continues to report for duty — at traffic junctions, in police stations, at crime scenes and during long festival deployments. The uniform remains the same. The responsibilities remain heavy. What many await is movement — not on the streets, but on the service record.
As the debate gathers momentum, the spotlight has shifted to a simple question: can a force remain strong at the top if its foundation feels left behind?
