Listen To This Post

Chandigarh: The Haryana government forwarded a fresh proposal to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the appointment of a new Director General of Police (DGP), following the formal divestment of Shatrujeet Kapur https://thenewsdose.com/haryana-govt-faces-crucial-decision-on-ex-dgp-shatrujeet-kapur-may-extend-op-singh-as-dgp/from the charge of the police force.

Kapur handed over charge at the police headquarters on Monday, clearing the way for the state to notify a vacancy in the top police post formally. The development is significant as incumbent DGP OP Singh is set to retire on December 31, necessitating the appointment of a full-time successor.

Earlier Panel Returned Due to ‘No Vacancy’

The state government had earlier sent a panel of five IPS officers, all in the DGP rank, to the UPSC.

• Shatrujeet Kapur (1990 batch),

• Sanjeev Kumar Jain (1991 batch),

• Ajay Singhal (1992 batch),

• Alok Mittal (1993 batch), and

• Dr AS Chawla (1993 batch).

However, the UPSC had returned the proposal, stating that no vacancy existed, as Kapur had merely proceeded on leave and could resume charge at any time.

Formal Divestment Clears Legal Hurdle

With Kapur now formally divested of the DGP’s charge, the state government has informed the UPSC that a clear vacancy will arise upon OP Singh’s superannuation. The same panel of five officers has been resent, along with Kapur’s fresh posting order, to substantiate the vacancy. Kapur had already completed his two-year tenure as DGP but was sent on leave after being named as an accused in a case related to the alleged abetment of the suicide of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar.

Selection as per Supreme Court Guidelines

As per the revised 2023 guidelines, the zone of consideration includes IPS officers holding the rank of DGP at Level-16 of the pay matrix, with a minimum of 6 months’ residual service as on the date of vacancy. The state is also required to submit integrity certificates and details of any pending criminal proceedings.

The appointment process is governed by the 2006 Supreme Court judgment in the Prakash Singh case, which mandates that the state select the DGP from among the three senior-most UPSC-empanelled officers, based on length of service, experience and record. Once appointed, the DGP is entitled to a minimum tenure of two years, irrespective of the date of superannuation. The UPSC is now expected to convene its selection committee to finalise the panel for Haryana’s next police chief.