Srinagar, Sep 18 (KNO): Commissioner/Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), M Raju on Friday praised the Jammu and Kashmir Police for its “proud legacy”, saying the newly appointed officers had both an opportunity and responsibility to contribute to its transformation into a modern, professional and citizen-centric force.
Addressing a function at Lok Bhavan Srinagar where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha handed over appointment letters to 29 newly selected officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Police (Gazetted) Service, Raju said the officers were beginning a career marked by responsibility, discipline, courage and public service.
“You are joining an institution with a proud legacy. You now have the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to its continuing transformation into a modern, professional, technology-enabled and citizen-centric force,” he said, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Raju said the appointment ceremony represented more than the formal conferment of appointment orders and reflected the administration’s commitment to transparent governance, institutional integrity, merit-based recruitment and meaningful opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Today’s ceremony represents more than a formal conferment of appointment orders. It is a reflection of our continued commitment to institutional excellence, administrative efficiency and transparent public recruitment,” he said.
The Commissioner/Secretary appreciated the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and all offices and institutions associated with the recruitment process for ensuring a rigorous and merit-based selection mechanism.
“I also place on record our appreciation for the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission and all offices and institutions associated with the recruitment process for ensuring a rigorous and merit-based selection mechanism,” he said.
Raju said the government had, over the past few years, taken the initiative of referring vacancies for competitive services to the JKPSC on a yearly basis to provide opportunities to the youth and bring greater efficiency and vibrancy to both the police and civil administration.
He said the responsibilities of modern law enforcement were rapidly evolving and the police were now required to respond to a wide range of challenges beyond conventional security threats. “Alongside the conventional challenges being faced, the Police Department today is required to respond to organised crime, economic offences, narco-terrorism, as well as the growing complexity of cybercrime,” Raju said.
“With the rapid expansion of digital governance and technology-enabled criminal activity, protecting citizens in cyberspace has also emerged as an important institutional priority,” he added.
The Commissioner/Secretary said the newly appointed officers would therefore have an important role in developing technology-enabled, intelligence-driven and professionally responsive policing. “Our policing framework is increasingly supported by platforms such as the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems, an interoperable criminal justice system enabling greater integration, information sharing and data-driven investigation across the criminal justice system,” he said.
He said effective policing began with rigorous professional preparation and outlined the training programme for the newly appointed officers.
Raju said they would undergo foundational training at the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development, followed by specialised training in policing, law, tactics and operations at the Police Academy.
“This structured training will equip them with the knowledge, skills and professional orientation required to discharge their responsibilities in an increasingly complex security and administrative environment,” he said.
Raju said the uniform the officers would wear represented much more than authority and carried the trust of the people. “The uniform which they wear represents not only mere authority, but a profound trust placed in you by the people,” he said.
“With that trust comes the responsibility to uphold the rule of law, protect the vulnerable, maintain public order and serve every citizen with fairness and dignity,” he added.
He urged the officers to maintain high standards of integrity and professionalism in their conduct and dealings with the public. He said the new officers would have the opportunity to strengthen the institution they were joining by combining professional competence with sensitivity towards citizens—(KNO)