Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration led by LG Manoj Sinha has revised the J&K Police Rules of 1960 to offer new benefits to Special Police Officers (SPOs) and Volunteer Home Guards (VHGs) during recruitment for the position of Constable.
According to a notification from the Home Department, a new rule (172-C) has been added, reserving 15% of Constable vacancies for SPOs and 4% for VHGs, provided they have served for at least three years. These reservations will not roll over to the next year if there are no eligible candidates.
Moreover, the government has amended the rules to raise the maximum age limit for SPOs and VHGs applying for Constable positions to 40 years, as long as they have a minimum of three years of service.
The notification issued by Home Department reads: in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 43 of the Police Act, Samwat,I 983, the Government hereby makes the following amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Police Rules,1960 which shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent in the Jammu and Kashmir Police Rules,1960.
“After rule 172-B, the following shall be inserted as rule 172-C; namely:- “172-CReservation of vacancies for SPOs and Volunteer Home guards(VHGs). Horizontal reservation to the extent of 15 per cent of available vacancies for SPOs and 4 per cent of available vacancies for Volunteer Home Guards (V1-1Gs) at the level of Constable in direct recruitment shall be earmarked in favour of the said categories having minimum three years of engagement. The quota so reserved shall not be carried forward to the subsequent year, in case eligible candidates are not available.”
The notification also reads: in sub-rule (1) of rule 182, the following proviso shall be added; namely:-“Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in clause (c) of sub-rule (1) of rule 176, the upper age limit for direct recruitment as Constable shall be 40 years in case of SPOs and Volunteer Home Guards having minimum 3 years of engagement”.