The Tamil Nadu government is set to prepare a revised seniority list of all the sub-inspectors (SIs) of police for 30 years from 1995, in view of the Supreme Court dismissing a review petition recently. The State government has issued directions to the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) and the Director-General of Police (DGP)/Head of Police Force (HoPF) in this regard.
The State government has directed the Chairman of the TNUSRB to recast all gradation list issued from 1995 in respect of direct recruitment which includes 20% in-service candidates recruited directly to the post of SI for granting seniority on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying examination/selection process. The list would be sent to the DGP/HoPF.
On the receipt of the list, the State government has directed the DGP/ HoPF to take necessary immediate action to implement the orders of the Supreme Court dated May 1, 2025, to issue the revised seniority list of all the SIs from 1995 as ordered by the apex court and to further communicate the same to all officers concerned.
The DGP/HoPF was also directed to send necessary amendment proposals to amend the service rules separately regarding fixation of seniority of directly recruited SIs based on selection marks instead of police training marks. The DGP/HoPF was also directed to send a proposal for creation of supernumerary posts, if required, at the appropriate time, on the need basis, to avoid service disruption, while revising the seniority.
In 1995, the State government reserved 20% of vacancies in the direct recruitment of SIs for police constables and head constables so as “to enhance their efficiency and educational qualification for early promotion” as SIs. It came into effect from July 13, 1995 and there have been several litigations since.
In line with the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on May 1 this year, the State government issued orders for conducting a common examination for both 20% departmental and 80% open quota candidates in the direct recruitment for SIs, henceforth, the new procedure was adopted.
However, the State government moved a review petition with a limited prayer to fix the seniority of the direct SIs based on the police training college marks instead of selection marks. The Supreme Court had in September this year dismissed the review petition. The State government examined the orders and felt that “the seniority lists must be redrawn from 1995 onwards.”
“Further, the implementation of the directions of the Supreme Court involves revision of seniority of more number of police personnel who have been directly recruited as SIs followed by the revision in subsequent higher categories up to the cadre of Superintendent of Police,” a G.O. issued in this regard said.
Published – November 06, 2025 12:53 am IST
