Terms of office of key police functionaries.

(1) An officer posted as Inspector General of Police of a range or Superintendent of Police of a district shall have a minimum term of one year: Provided that any such officer may be removed by the appointing authority from his post before the expiry of the minimum tenure prescribed consequent upon: (a) promotion to a higher post; or (b) conviction, or charges having been framed, by a court of law in a criminal offence; or (c) punishment of dismissal, removal, discharge or compulsory retirement from service or of reduction to a lower rank awarded under the relevant Discipline and Appeal Rules; or (d) suspension from the service in accordance with the provisions of the said rules; or (e) incapacitation by physical or mental illness or otherwise becoming unable to discharge his functions and duties; or (f) the need to fill up a vacancy caused by promotion, transfer, or retirement. (2) In exceptional cases, an officer may be transferred from his post by the competent authority before the expiry of his tenure for gross inefficiency and negligence or where a prima facie case of a serious nature is established after a preliminary enquiry.