Supreme Court halts promotion of 40 police officers pending IGP’s appeal

The Supreme Court has temporarily halted the implementation of a Court of Appeal ruling that ordered the promotion of 40 police officers. The police officers had challenged the exclusion from a promotion program, which they believed to be unfair. The Court of Appeal had overturned a previous High Court decision that had dismissed their case.

The dispute arose from an amnesty granted by the Police Management Board in 2021, which made certain police officers eligible for promotion. The 40 officers in question argued that they were unfairly left out of the eligibility criteria. They sought promotion from Chief Inspectors to Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs). The officers also pointed to other promotions within the police hierarchy as evidence of perceived unequal treatment.

They filed a lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Management Board in an attempt to compel the promotion. However, the High Court initially dismissed their claim. The officers then appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal, which ruled in their favor. The Court of Appeal ordered the promotions to take place.

Now, the Supreme Court has intervened, staying the execution of that judgment pending the outcome of the ongoing appeal.