Himachal Pradesh relaxes police promotion rules for veterans to fight drug menace

SHIMLA, June 2, 2026— Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu attended a special felicitation ceremony for former police personnel in Shimla, praising their discipline, experience, and dedication to national service as an inspiration for all.

During the event, the Chief Minister announced key relaxations in promotion eligibility criteria to support veterans who typically join the police force later in their careers.

Under the standard rules, a minimum of 20 years of service is required for the rank of honorary head constable and 32 years for an honorary assistant sub-inspector, but these requirements have been eased to accommodate the unique circumstances of the veterans.

As a direct result of this policy relaxation, the state government has granted promotions to 361 former personnel, appointing 246 veterans as head constables and 115 as assistant sub-inspectors.

Beyond the administrative changes, the Chief Minister emphasized that the state police force plays a critical role in the government’s aggressive and comprehensive campaign against drug abuse, with a specific focus on eradicating the synthetic drug known locally as chitta.

The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking dignitaries, including Sainik Welfare Minister Dhaniram Shandil, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari, and other senior administrative officials.