New Delhi (09.02.2026): In a scathing rebuke of the growing trend of appointing acting police chiefs, the Supreme Court last week termed the practice "unacceptable," providing a sudden glimmer of hope for three senior IPS officers in Tamil Nadu whose regular appointments have been in limbo since September 2025.
Despite the UPSC having recommended a panel of three officers as early as September 29, 2025, the state government has persisted with an ad hoc arrangement. Notwithstanding this recommendation, the Tamil Nadu government has continued with G. Venkatraman (IPS: 1994: TN) as the officiating DGP and Head of Police Force (HoPF) since September 1, 2025.
Not surprising, the apex court’s February 5, 2026 intervention specifically targeted states like Tamil Nadu, including few others, which have been criticized for bypassing regular appointment norms for the post of Director General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force (HoPF).
UPSC Panel vs. The Status Quo:
It may be underlined that the UPSC-cleared panel, which it sent to TN Govt on 29 September 2025, consisted of three veteran officers:
- Seema Aggarwal (1990), scheduled for superannuation in June this year
- Rajeev Kumar (1992), having service tenure until December 2028 &
- Sandeep Rai Rathore (1992), having service tenure until February 2028.
Eyes At Election 2026:
Under established norms, the state should have moved the UPSC three months prior to the retirement of former chief Shankar Jiwal on August 31, 2025. The subsequent delay and the preference for an "acting" chief are being viewed in power corridors as a strategic move to maintain greater administrative control ahead of the crucial May 2026 Assembly elections.
SC Terming 'Deliberate' Delays:
To dismantle this culture of ad hocism, the Supreme Court has now empowered the UPSC to proactively contact respective state governments for timely recommendations. In a stern warning, the Court instructed the Commission to approach it directly for contempt proceedings or "necessary consequences" if states fail to comply.
With the apex court tightening the noose, all eyes are now on Fort St. George to see if the state will finally appoint a regular DGP from the mandated panel before the electoral code of conduct kicks in.
