Many officers are in a state of uncertainty due to the absence of a regular president for the IPS association since DGP Ajay Tomar’s retirement on January 31. This situation is particularly concerning as three politically sensitive districts—Ahmedabad, Mehsana, and Anand—along with Surat Range and Surat city, are being managed by in-charge officers.
Senior IPS officers in Gujarat are expressing frustration. One officer shared, “Awaiting transfers and promotions without any timeframe is tough for us. We also have to arrange things once we are transferred to another district or jurisdiction. Frustration is creeping in now.” This sentiment is shared by many of the state’s 164 IPS officers, who currently lack a representative for their grievances.
For about a month, 40 IPS officers in Gujarat are standing in line for promotions and transfers. This includes 27 IPS officers awaiting promotion across various ranks. Notably, Manoj Agarwal, a 1991 batch IPS officer, G S Malik, from the 1993 batch, K L N Rao of the 1992 batch, and Hasmukh Patel, a 1993 batch IPS officer, are waiting for promotion from Additional DGP to DGP. Additionally, several 1999 batch IPS officers, including Brijesh Kumar Jha, Ajay Kumar Choudhary, Wabang Jamir, Abhay Chudasama, and Subhash Trivedi, are in line for promotion from IGP to Add. DGP. Plans also include raising eight officers from DIG to IGP, with about 10 set to rise from SP to DIG rank. Following this, another group of 13 officers is expected to be promoted.
Tomar had served as Police Commissioner of Surat and as the president of the IPS Association for approximately a year and a half.
Even after 20 days from Tomar’s retirement the IPS Association of Gujarat finds itself without a regular president. R B Brahmbhatt, a 1995 batch IPS officer, currently serves as vice-president, and Nipuna Torwane, from the 2000 batch, as secretary. This leadership gap also extends to three politically sensitive districts—Ahmedabad, Mehsana, and Anand—as well as Surat Range and Surat City, all currently overseen by in-charge officers. With Brahmbhatt nearing retirement, some officers point out the need for appointing a regular president soon.
The districts of Ahmedabad, Mehsana, and Anand are highly politically sensitive, with elections on the horizon. These are operating without regular Superintendents of Police (SPs). Amit Vasava, Achal Tyagi, and Praveen Meena, the SPs of these districts, have been deputed to the CBI. Similarly, Surat Range and Surat City are also under in-charge officers. In the interim, Atul Bansal oversees Anand, Megha Tevar manages Ahmedabad Rural, and Rishikesh Upadhyay is in charge of Mehsana. These districts, especially significant due to the large Patel community population, are critical in the upcoming general elections. Sources from the home department hint that transfers might occur after February 25, but those awaiting promotion may face further delays.
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