New Delhi (04.10.2024): The Supreme Court of India issued notices to the Central government and eight state governments seeking appointment of regular Director General of Police (DGP) in these states which included Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Punjab and Jharkhand. These states, barring Odisha, currently have temporary chiefs of police designated as acting DGPs which is in violation of SC guidelines.

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, UP and Punjab have had temporary DGPs for more than a year, Uttarakhand, Odisha and West Bengal had them for months. Odisha has now appointed Y B Khurania (IPS: 1990: OD) as regular DGP who took charge in August. Jharkhand appointed an acting DGP in July.

UP has had three acting DGPs in succession since May, 2022. In January, the state got its fourth DGP in Prashant Kumar (IPS: 1990: UP). The last permanent DGP Mukul Goel (IPS: 1987: UP) was removed for “lack of interest towards work” and appointed Devendra Singh Chauhan (IPS: 1988: UP) as acting DG. Following his retirement on March 31, 2022, Raj Kumar Vishwakarma (IPS: 1988: UP) was made acting DG. Then on May 31, 2024 upon retirement, Vishwakarma was replaced by Vijay Kumar (IPS: 1988: UP) as acting DG superseding Anand Kumar (IPS: 1988: UP) and retired on January 31, 2024.

The Apex Court clearly said no temporary or ad hoc appointments of police chiefs be made, barring exceptional circumstances. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had sent a letter to all states to comply with SC guidelines on DGP appointments.