Agartala, Nov 2 : The Tripura government has approved a one-time policy permitting ad-hoc promotions in state government services to address a growing backlog of vacancies in senior positions, which have remained unfilled due to a pending Supreme Court case concerning reservation in promotions.
The General Administration (Personnel & Training) Department issued a notification on October 13, outlining the framework for granting temporary promotions until the legal issues are resolved.
According to the notification, regular promotions have been affected by pending legal proceedings concerning the interpretation and implementation of provisions of the Tripura Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Reservation Act, 1991, and the corresponding Rules of 1992, particularly those relating to reservation in promotional appointments.
Government sources said a large number of promotional posts had remained vacant for an extended period, affecting administrative efficiency and the functioning of several departments.
To address the situation, the government has decided to allow ad-hoc promotions as an exceptional arrangement to ensure continuity in administration and prevent disruption of public services. A similar temporary measure was adopted in 2021 under comparable circumstances.
Under the new policy, ad-hoc promotions can be granted where regular promotions cannot be undertaken for reasons beyond the control of the competent authority and keeping the posts vacant could adversely affect public administration.
However, the notification clarifies that such promotions will be purely temporary and will not confer any automatic right or entitlement to regular promotion in the future.
It further stipulates that where an ad-hoc promotion continues beyond one year, consultation with the Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC) will be necessary in cases where such consultation is mandated under existing regulations.
All departments have been directed to incorporate the prescribed conditions governing ad-hoc promotions in their respective appointment orders.
The policy will remain subject to the final outcome of the pending Special Leave Petitions before the Supreme Court and any subsequent directions issued by the apex court, the notification said.
The decision is expected to help departments fill critical supervisory and senior-level positions, reduce the additional workload on existing officers and ensure smoother implementation of development programmes and public welfare schemes.
It may also provide eligible government employees an opportunity to assume higher responsibilities after years of stalled career progression.
However, the temporary arrangement does not guarantee regularisation or settle issues relating to seniority and long-term service benefits.
The policy is aimed at maintaining administrative continuity while the state awaits a final judicial determination on the legal provisions governing reservation in promotions.
