Rules cleared for additional director general selection at ITBP

NEW DELHI: After operationalisation of the newly sanctioned commands for western and eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Centre has approved the rules for appointment of additional director general (ADGs), who will head the two commands at Chandigarh and Guwahati. Out of the three posts of ADGs, two will go to IPS officers on deputation while the remaining one will be filled by promotion from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), according to home ministry.

As the stand-off between the armed forces of India and China continues at the LAC, the government has taken a slew of measures including creation of additional border outposts (BoPs), sanction of battalions, filling up of vacancies and modernising weaponry, said officials. For the appointments of ADGs, a panel comprising the Union home secretary, DoPT secretary, DG ITBP and others will consider the proposal of IG-level officers to be posted with the ITBP, they said.

The ITBP, along with the Indian Army, maintains vigil on the 3,488-km India-China border. While the newly carved western command will look after India’s border with China in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Eastern Command would exercise control over the north-eastern frontier, which includes parts of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

According to the ministry’s order, officers eligible for appointment as ADG within the ITBP should have served “thirty years service in Group ‘A’ service out of which three years regular service shall be in the post of Inspector General” while IPS officers “holding the post of ADG or empanelled to hold the post of ADG in the Central government” are eligible.

“No person who is not a citizen of India, except with the prior permission of the central government in writing, can be appointed to the post. Provided that nothing contained in this rule shall debar the appointment or employment of a subject of Nepal or Bhutan in the force,” it said.

India and China have been engaged in a border stand-off along the LAC since April. The violent clashes with the Chinese troops in Galwan on June 15 resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers.