Shoulder promotions in Punjab police: IG Punjab directed to keep seniority list intact till decision

The Supreme Court Tuesday directed Inspector General Punjab Police Javed Iqbal to keep the police officials seniority list intact till final decision on shoulder promotion case. A two-member bench comprising Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was hearing the suo motu case of the 'shoulder promotions' in police.
Senior advocates of Supreme Court Hamid Khan, Akram Sheikh and Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan appeared on behalf of police officials. Ahsan contended to promote the police officials in accordance with the new seniority list worked out in 2011, assuring the bench that new seniority list has been prepared on merit and quite independently. However, disagreeing with Aitzaz Ahsan, Advocate Hamid Khan was of the view that no new seniority list is required in the presence of previous list, which was prepared in 2008. Officers should be promoted in accordance with the previous list. If anyone has a genuine grievance against seniority list of 2008 he/she can approach the concerned forum.
The officers present in the court also seemed divided on the new and old seniority lists. Justice Javed Iqbal reiterated his stance that court's verdict would not affect anyone's right. The suo motu notice was not taken to demoralise the police but to safeguard their rights. The court is not hearing individual's case but looking into the mater as a whole. The apex court adjourned hearing for two weeks seeking details from IGP Punjab of recently promoted police officers.