Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu honoured ex-servicemen serving in the state police force and completed his self-enumeration for Census 2027, highlighting the government’s commitment to both veteran welfare and digital governance.
At a ceremony held at Oak Over in Shimla, the Chief Minister participated in a piping ceremony for Head Constable Sudhir Sharma and Constable Ravi Dutt. The state government has granted honorary placements to 246 ex-servicemen as Head Constables and 115 as Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) in the police department.
Addressing the gathering, Sukhu said the government deeply values the discipline, experience and dedication that former Armed Forces personnel bring to the police force. He noted that many ex-servicemen who join the police after military service often fall short of the service tenure required for honorary promotions.
To address this issue, the state government relaxed eligibility norms, enabling eligible former soldiers to receive honorary placements as Head Constables and ASIs.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said, “Those who have already served the nation in the Armed Forces and later joined the police department have now been given due upgradation. This is recognition of their service and contribution.”
Legal Protection Extended to Police Personnel
The Chief Minister also announced enhanced legal protection for police personnel under provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
He stated that protections previously available primarily to senior police officers have now been extended to personnel working in the field. Under the new provision, prior government sanction will be required before prosecuting police personnel for actions taken during lawful investigations.
Reservation for Agniveers
Commenting on recruitment under the Agnipath Scheme, Sukhu said the state has introduced opportunities for former Agniveers by reserving positions in the police department.
He noted that approximately 1,200 recruits are currently undergoing training and reiterated the government’s commitment to providing employment opportunities to youth returning after service under the Agnipath scheme.
CM Completes Census 2027 Self-Enumeration
Later in the day, the Chief Minister completed his self-enumeration through the online portal as part of the Census 2027 digital exercise.
During the process, Director of Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, Deep Shikha Sharma briefed him on the self-enumeration system and the broader census programme.
Appealing to citizens to actively participate, Sukhu urged residents to complete self-enumeration by June 15, 2026, emphasizing that the census provides critical data for governance, development planning and public service delivery.
Census Schedule in Himachal Pradesh
According to the state government:
- House Listing and Housing Census: June 16 – July 15, 2026
- Population Enumeration in Snowbound Areas: September 11 – 30, 2026
- Population Enumeration in Remaining Areas: February 9 – 28, 2027
The Chief Minister encouraged citizens to provide accurate information regarding housing, vehicles and household amenities to ensure reliable data for future planning and development initiatives.
The event was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, MLA Kamlesh Thakur and other senior government officials.
