Himachal Pradesh High Court has stayed the B-1 test scheduled for November 9 for promotions from police constable to head constable. Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua’s court granted this interim relief on an application filed in the case of Ashwini Kumar versus State of Himachal Pradesh and others. The court has ordered respondents to file their reply within 10 days, with the next hearing scheduled for November 19. Following the court order, the police department has cancelled the examination.
The court observed that the relevance of the B-1 examination and its consideration for promotion to head constable posts needs deliberation. The petition stated that this examination is being conducted after a gap of nearly seven years, whereas according to standing orders, it should be held annually in August. The last B-1 exam was conducted in 2017. The exam was earlier scheduled for September 21 and then October 20 but was subsequently cancelled.
Petitioners argued that conducting the exam after such a long gap would disadvantage them. Senior and experienced police personnel working 24-hour duties would now have to compete with newly graduated candidates who are better acquainted with the syllabus. The petitioners’ advocate informed that a large number of constables retire without promotion due to inability to pass this B-1 examination, while employees in other wings of the police department like band staff, fingerprint, and dog squad receive 3 to 4 promotions.
The court was told that the police department had recommended in 2013 itself to eliminate the B-1 test for promotion to head constable posts and grant promotions based on seniority. Following the court order, the police department has cancelled the examination and informed all district Superintendents of Police about this decision.
