Many of the IPS officers who have failed file their property returns are Director Generals of Police.
More than 500 Indian Police Service officers, including Director Generals of Police and Inspector Generals of Police, have failed to file their property details for 2016, which may lead to denial of promotion and cancellation of vigilance clearance, officials have said.
According to the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, all Indian Police Service officers are required to file their Immovable Property Return (IPR) in a prescribed format by January 31 every year. Till March 31, 2017, as many as 3,390 IPS officers had filed IPR, out of the total cadre strength of 3,905 IPS officers, a home ministry official said.
Failure to declare details of property by the IPS officers may force the home ministry to take action against erring officials, including denial of promotion and vigilance clearance. The home ministry is the cadre controlling authority of IPS officers.
Many of the IPS officers who have failed file their property returns are Director Generals of Police, Additional Directors General of Police and Inspector Generals of Police, another official said. Facing the peculiar situation of such a large number of IPS officers not declaring property details, the home ministry has now directed all state governments and Union Territory administrations to seek explanation from the officers who have not filed their IPR.
According to the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Amendment Rules, 2014, all central government employees, except those working as peons or multi-tasking staff, need to file property returns.