IPS officers association demand pay parity with their IAS counterparts

IPS officers association has demanded pay parity and career benefits which are equivalent to those of their IAS counterparts.

The IPS officers association has hinted at the role of IAS officers for delay in getting their legitimate benefits.

The association said its officers have a genuine reason to feel concerned when delays in granting the recommended, and sometimes even the entitled, service benefits become too frequent which lead to accentuation of inter service disparities.

"When beneficiaries (IAS officers) of such disparities occupy the role of advising the government, apprehensions of conflict of interest are bound to arise unless extra steps are taken to make the process transparent, time bound and objective," it said in a statement issued today.

The IPS association resolves to represent to the government for due recognition of their services and regarding delays in resolving the service related issues, the statement said.

The issue of pay parity was discussed during Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) of Indian Police Service (Central) Association held yesterday.

IAS officers presently get a two-year edge over other services for getting empanelled to come on deputation at the Centre.

Besides, they also get two additional increments at the rate of 3 per cent over their basic pay at three promotion stages i.e., promotion to the Senior Time Scale (STS), to the Junior Administrative Grade (JAG) and to the Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG) after putting in about four, eight and 13 years of service, respectively.

"Along with issues of professional development, some other issues which included delay in granting inter all India services parity, and delays/denial of the recommended/entitled benefits were discussed," said P V Ramasashtry, secretary of the association.

He said quantum of pay is never a consideration for IPS officers, but they expect that their importance to the governance should not get undermined through lower emolument structure compared to others in the civil service.

Ramasashtry said the long standing demand for parity among all India services was examined by the seventh pay commission.

"After extensive study and stakeholder consultations, in a majority opinion (barring lone dissenting voice of a member who is a retired IAS officer) the Commission acknowledged the importance and challenges of work performed by the IPS officers and recommended parity among services in the matters of pay, empanelment and opportunities to compete for senior positions," he said.