The Supreme Court will hear on January 15 the petitions of various state governments seeking to implement their local laws regarding the selection and appointment of Director General of Police (DGP).

 

Among the states which have filed the petitions are Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, and Kerala. These states desire a modification of the SC's earlier order directing all the states to mandatorily take the assistance of the UPSC in short-listing the names for appointing DGPs.

The apex court had on December 12 last year extended till January 31 the tenures of present DGPs of Punjab and Haryana and agreed to hear the states' pleas seeking to implement their local laws regarding the selection and appointment of the police chief.

It may be noted that DGPs Suresh Arora (Punjab) and BS Sandhu (Haryana) were due to retire on December 31 last year and now they will remain in office till January 31 in accordance with the earlier order of the SC.

 

The top court, on July 3 last year, had passed a slew of directions on police reforms in the country and laid down the steps for appointment of regular DGPs.

 

It had stated that the states will have to send a list of senior police officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) at least three months prior to the retirement of the incumbent.

 

The commission will then prepare a panel and intimate to the states, which in turn will immediately appoint one of the persons from that list.