TN but to ship proposal for appointing new Head of Police Force

Going by Supreme Court tips within the appointment of DGPs, the State Government ought to have despatched the listing of eligible officers to the UPSC three months earlier than the incumbent DGP Shankar Jiwal’s retirement (August 30, 2025). Once the listing of eligible officers is shipped, the UPSC would put together a panel of three officers match for appointment as Head of Police Force and ship it again to the State for choosing one to the highest publish.

Tamil Nadu is amongst just a few States that comply with the apex court docket tips within the Prakash Singh case as regards appointment of DGPs/HoPF. It has been the follow since a few years to ship the listing of IPS officers for UPSC empanelling and subsequent appointment. However, with simply greater than a month left for the current DGP to retire, there isn’t a signal of the State initiating the method, police sources stated.

While there’s an info that the State may amend the Tamil Nadu Police Act to allow appointment of an officer of its alternative as DGP/HoPF, rumours are additionally agog that Mr. Shankar Jiwal could get an extension of three months with the approval of the Union Government.

The Supreme Court in its earlier order had directed the States to make sure that DGPs have been appointed by means of a merit-based clear course of with a minimal tenure of two years regardless of the date of superannuation.

However, after some States appointed DGPs on the final minute giving them the good thing about a full two-year tenure, the court docket directed that appointing an individual as DGP simply earlier than his or her retirement must be averted. The court docket additionally dominated towards the idea of appointing an officer as “performing DGP”. Despite particular tips, some States appointed “in-charge” DGPs or DGPs with “full extra cost” to bypass the requirement of in search of a panel from the UPSC.

Qualifying officers

In case the State Government sends an inventory of officers to the UPSC, the officers within the order of seniority who would qualify to be within the proposal are Seema Agrawal, Rajeev Kumar, Sandeep Rai Rathore, Okay. Vannia Perumal, Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, G. Venkatraman, Vinit Dev Wankhede and Sanjay Mathur who’re all within the level-16 pay matrix. Though in service, DGPs Pramod Kumar and Abhay Kumar Singh wouldn’t match within the standards of getting a minimal of six months service left earlier than retirement

Though the police headquarters has written to the State Home Secretary that emptiness to the highest publish within the police power would come up on August 30, 2025, no resolution has been taken but on sending a proposal to the UPSC for finalising the panel. The UPSC’s choice committee is headed by its Chairman and contains the Union Home Secretary, the involved State’s Chief Secretary and DGP, and one of many heads of the Central Armed Police Forces nominated by the MHA not belonging identical State cadre as members, the sources stated.

Whether Tamil Nadu will deviate from the conference of complying with the Supreme Court tips within the appointment of DGPs and go forward posting an officer of its alternative to move the power stays to be seen.