Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SR)

New Delhi, May 10: As many as 1,200 Indian Police Service (IPS) officers landed under the scanner of the Home Ministry for non-performance, an official said Thursday to PTI agency.

The performance of a total of 1,181 IPS officers has been reviewed in the past three years to check deadwood from the government.

As per the PTI report, the official said the review of service records was carried out under Rule 16 (3) of All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958 during 2016 and 2018 to check non-performers.

The rule says that the central government in consultation with the state government concerned may ask an IAS officer to retire in public interest by giving at least three months previous notice in writing or three months' pay and allowances in lieu of such notice.

Ten out of the total of 1,181 IPS officers were recommended for premature retirement from the service in public interest, he added. However, he was not ready to disclose the names of the officers concerned.

According to a home ministry data, as many as 3,972 IPS officers are working across the country against their total sanctioned strength of 4,940. The Modi government has started the policy of reviewing the service record of the IPS officers to check deadwood from the service, the official said.

"The periodical review helps the government in assessing performers and checking non-performers. Based on this review, performers are encouraged and non-performers are asked either to improve or face expulsion from the service in public interest," the official said, as reported in PTI.

Service records of 1,143 IAS officers were reviewed by the Centre from 2015 to 2018 and recommended premature retirement to four officers found lacking, the official added.