The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked defaulting states to follow the Supreme Court’s orders on the appointments of Director General of Police (DGPs). The apex court has questioned the practice of states not appointing regular police chiefs despite eligible and experienced officers available for the positions.
A letter in this regard was sent from the office of the Union Home Secretary to the Chief Secretaries of seven states that have officiating state police chiefs. These states are Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Odisha and West Bengal that have temporary DGPs officiating as police chiefs.
The SC has ruled that acting DGPs can be appointed only if inevitable and in exceptional circumstances. The appointments of acting DGPs are usually made by handing the additional charge of the police chief’s post to a DG-rank officer in the state with some other responsibility.
It’s understood that the letter has been sent only to the states; Jammu and Kashmir has been kept out of it.
It mentioned that states must follow the apex court’s orders on appointing regular DGPs with two-year tenure.
The letter, the IE report added, pointed out SC directives on the appointment of DGPs in the Prakash Singh case.
“We keep reminding the defaulting states that they must follow SC directions and Union Public Service Commission guidelines on appointment of DGPs. This letter has been sent as part of the same exercise,” a senior Home Ministry official was quoted as saying by the paper.
According to the UPSC guidelines, states must send a list of eligible officers with at least three senior officers to the commission six months before the retirement of the incumbent DGP.
The verdict has divided opinions. It’s said that the state government has to choose among the three police officers. The CM should exercise discretion in appointing the best person to lead the police force. The government’s choice may not necessarily be the best.
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