MARGAO
In light of the growing unrest among the staff of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn), the Goa Forward Party has strongly demanded the immediate formation of a Common Cadre for the Goa Police and IRBn to address long-standing "disparities and injustices".
In a letter addressed to the Director General of Police (DGP), Goa Forward party Chief Vijai Sardesai highlighted the issues arising from the recent decision by the government to merge only the gazetted posts of the IRBn with the Goa Police.
“This selective approach has caused significant discontent among IRBn personnel, who view the move as an attempt to benefit certain officers within the Goa Police while sidelining their counterparts in the IRBn,” Sardesai wrote.
Sardesai pointed out that the officers from the 2013 batch of the Goa Police have already been promoted to the rank of Police Inspector, while IRBn officers from the 2010 batch remain at the level of Police Sub-Inspector (PSI). “Such disparities have created frustration and disillusionment among IRBn personnel, who feel unjustly treated,” he said.
To address these inequities, the Police Establishment Board (PEB) had proposed the creation of a Common Cadre as early as November 2021, recommending that seniority should be determined based on the date of appointment, irrespective of whether the officer is from the Goa Police or the IRBn. However, despite this being proposed three years ago, this recommendation remains "under examination" while the government continues to promote Goa Police staff to higher ranks, he said.
Given these circumstances, the Goa Forward Party urged the government to act swiftly and complete the formation of the Common Cadre, ensuring that all personnel are treated equitably based on their appointment date. Any further delay will not only demoralize the IRBn staff but also harm the credibility of law enforcement agencies in the state, Sardesai said.
