Government compulsorily retires two IPS officers after poor performance review

NEW DELHI: In a rare and stern message to bureaucrats who fail to perform well in their careers, the government has compulsorily retired two IPS officers on the basis of a performance review required to be held at the end of 15 and 25 years of service under the All-India service rules.

The two IPS officers -- Raj Kumar Devangan, belonging to 1992 batch of Chhattisgarh cadre and Mayank Sheel Chohan from 1998 batch of AGMU cadre -- were found to have put in sub-optimal performance by the concerned state cadre on the basis of their service records, ACRs and assessment of their seniors.

The home ministry, which is the cadre-controlling authority of IPS officers, approved the recommendation of the concerned state cadres to compulsorily retire them from service "in public interest".

"A notice has been served on them and as per rules, they were given three months salary along with compulsory retirement orders duly approved by appointments committee of Cabinet (ACC)," an officer told TOI.

The move is rare. The last time an IPS officer was 'compulsory retired' was nearly 10 to 15 years ago. It reportedly involved officers of Maharashtra cadre. "It is technically not a punishment but merely an action taken to remove officers seen as deadwood by their respective cadres and the Centre for not being serious in discharge of their duties. The compulsorily retired officer gets all post-retirement benefits," explained an officer.