CHENNAI: 117 Inspectors of Police (IOP) are still waiting to be promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Tamil Nadu inspite of the government passing a Government Order (GO) last November. According to sources the promotion panel had recommended, the department had accepted and later the chief executive of the State signed and issued the order promoting inspectors of police as deputy superintendents. But even after four months, 117 inspectors are still waiting for their promotion orders due to political uncertainty. On November 11 the Government Order (No. 52) was issued. Due to uncertain political conditions since then, enough time had not been spared to look in to our case, police sources say. The DSPs in most districts in Tamil Nadu are in charge of more than two subdivisions – each subdivision has 10-15 police stations. “Due to the delays in postings, vacancies have opened up in south and central zone at the DSP level for more than a year now. Five posts are lying unfilled in the Q Branch, the important wing that deals with extremist threats. There are vacancies in CB-CID and Vigilance departments too, the source added. According to sources, the 2015-2016 promotion panel had prepared a list of inspectors from the 1996 batch who were eligible for promotion as DSP. This was submitted to the home department last June when Ashok Kumar was the DGP. “The list was accepted by the department, and was forwarded to the then chief minister Mr. O Panneerselvam who then signed the GO, the source said. Police sources added that, the placement panel headed by the State Police chief and comprising the ADGP (Law and Order), ADGP (Administration) and IG (Intelligence) had to meet and take formal steps. “But that meeting is yet to take place as the IG (Intelligence) post is vacant at the moment, all these issues are delaying our promotion, a police officer said.]]>