Supreme Court halts promotion of 40 Chief Inspectors pending appeal

The Supreme Court has granted an application by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and other police authorities to suspend the execution of a Court of Appeal ruling that ordered the promotion of 40 Chief Inspectors under a special amnesty exercise.

The decision follows an appeal by the Police Administration against a January 22, 2026, judgment in which the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled 3-0 in favour of the officers and directed the IGP and the Police Management Board (POMAB) to promote them within six months.

The 40 officers had taken legal action after being left out of a special promotion exercise in 2021, despite claiming they met the requirements for consideration.

The exercise invited police personnel from the rank of Corporal to Chief Inspector who had obtained university degrees by 2020 to submit their certificates for possible promotion.

Although officers in the other ranks were promoted to their next ranks, the 40 Chief Inspectors were only congratulated, prompting them to challenge the decision at the High Court.

The High Court dismissed their case, leading the officers to appeal the decision.

The Court of Appeal subsequently ruled in their favour, directing the police authorities to promote them within six months.

The Police Administration has since appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court and applied for a stay of execution, which has now been granted.

The latest decision suspends the implementation of the Court of Appeal's order while the Supreme Court considers the appeal.

GNA