The Gujarat state government has elevated the careers of six senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from its cadre who are currently serving in central government positions. A formal notification issued on December 1 has granted them proforma promotions under the provisions of Rule 8(6) of the IPS (Pay) Rules, 2016.
Senior Officers Elevated to Top Police Leadership
The most significant elevation is for Manoj Sashidhar of the 1994 batch. Currently serving as a Special Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), he has been promoted to the Director General of Police (DGP) grade. This move places him in the highest echelon of police leadership while he continues his central deputation.
Similarly, Raju Bhargava (1995 batch), who was holding the post of Additional DGP for Armed Units, has also been promoted to the DGP grade. He has been assigned to the ex-cadre position of Director General of Police (Armed Units) in Gandhinagar. This decision effectively upgrades the previously held Additional DGP post to a full DGP-rank position.
Inspector General Rank Promotions for 2007 Batch Officers
The state government's notification also covered promotions for four officers from the 2007 batch. Three of them have been promoted to the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), aligning with their current central assignments.
- Divya Mishra is posted as Additional Deputy Director in the Intelligence Bureau.
- Deepan Bhadran serves as Director in the senior executive cadre of the Cabinet Secretariat.
- Saurabh Tolumbia is working as an Advisor (Security) with the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL).
The fourth officer, P V Rathod, also from the 2007 batch, has been promoted from Deputy Inspector General of Police to Inspector General of Police. She has been appointed to the ex-cadre post of IGP, CID (Crime) in Gandhinagar. Her promotion results in the upgrading of the earlier DIG-level post within the CID wing to an IGP-level position.
Formalizing Career Progression for Central Deputation
The proforma promotion is a procedural step that formalizes an officer's upgraded pay and rank while they are serving outside their parent cadre. The Gujarat government's notification explicitly stated that all mandatory conditions required for granting such promotions to officers on central deputation have been duly certified and fulfilled.
This move ensures that these officers' career progression is recognized and documented by their home state, keeping their seniority and service records updated. It is a routine administrative process that facilitates smoother cadre management for officers who choose to serve in important central agencies and ministries.
