Jharkhand HC reserves order on seniority dispute over inspector promotions

The Jharkhand High Court has reserved its order on a petition challenging the seniority list used for promotion from sub-inspector to inspector in the state police.

The hearing on a petition filed by Uttam Tiwari challenging the seniority list issued on September 9, 2024, was completed before the court of Justice Deepak Roshan. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its order.

The dispute dates back to the appointment of Tiwari and other police sub-inspectors in 2018 through direct recruitment under Advertisement No. 5/2017.

The police department subsequently issued the seniority list on September 9, 2024. The petitioner has challenged the placement of personnel who were promoted from constable to sub-inspector through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination.

Tiwari's contention is that since he and other petitioners were directly appointed to the post of sub-inspector, they should have been placed higher in the seniority list than those who entered the post through departmental promotion.

The seniority list has a direct bearing on promotions to the post of inspector, making the dispute significant for a number of police personnel awaiting career progression.

The issue had earlier come before the High Court. On May 12, 2026, the court stayed promotions being carried out on the basis of the September 9, 2024 seniority list.

Following the order, the state government filed an intervention application seeking removal of the stay and permission to proceed with the promotion process.

With the court now having heard the arguments of both sides and reserved its order, the forthcoming decision is expected to determine the way forward on the seniority dispute and the consequent promotions from sub-inspector to inspector in the Jharkhand Police.