The Jammu and Kashmir administration led by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha has issued a slew of orders related to police recruitment ahead of the swearing-in of the new government, triggering an outcry.

The LG, under the new rules introduced by the Centre, is entitled to take decisions related to the police and some other departments but the timing is being viewed as a challenge to the new government.

An order issued on Friday evening devised new rules for police recruitment and said it “will be conducted through direct appointments and promotions”.

It said the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) would handle direct recruitment while promotions would be overseen by the departmental promotion committee.

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir police had its own recruitment board to fill the vacancies.

Two selection committees, led by the chief secretary and director-general of police (DGP), have been formed to supervise promotions and placements within the department, the fresh notification said.

The new guidelines will apply to several cadres, including general, telecommunication, ministerial, stenography, photography, police transport workshop, and arms/ammunition, the notification said.

Officials said the current move was “aimed at creating a more structured and transparent recruitment process for the police force”.

Separately, the home department has issued Rules for Jammu and Kashmir Police Gazetted Services identifying two posts of commissioners in the rank of the inspector-general of police (IGP) and six posts of directors, special directors and additional directors equivalent to deputy inspector-general of police (DIG) for Jammu and Kashmir Police Services (JKPS) officers.

The JKPS officers will now be eligible for these posts without their induction into the Indian Police Services, the order said.

“The cadre strength of the Service of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir bifurcated between the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh after enforcement of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act shall remain Joint Service/Cadre till the decision regarding separate cadre for the Service in Ladakh is taken by the Competent Authority,” said the Jammu and Kashmir Police (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 2024, issued by the home department on Friday.

The rules also said the officers would not be designated as IGPs and DIGs but as commissioners and directors.

The service requirement for posting JKPS officers as directors is 18 years and as commissioners is 22 years.

In its third order, the administration has ordered the transfer of two police officers.

CPM veteran and MLA-elect Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami expressed concern over these orders coming “just days before the formation of the new legislature and cabinet”.

“These actions undermine the significance of the upcoming legislature and cabinet, which are expected to be formed soon,” he said.

“Since 2018, Jammu and Kashmir has been under central rule, and such orders should have been issued in previous years,” he added.

Tarigami said the orders were unwarranted and the timing surprising, suggesting that these matters should have been left to the elected representatives to handle.