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UPSC Returns Panel for New Police Chief

Chandigarh: The Haryana government is headed for a crucial administrative call as former Director General of Police Shatrujeet S. Kapur completes his two-month leave on December 14. Kapur stepped aside after being named in the alleged suicide note of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, but with the DGP post currently occupied by O P Singh, who retires on December 31, Kapur cannot resume charge even if he reports back to duty. In such a crucial situation, the government may consider extending the period of the current officiating DGP O P Singh for the next three to six months.

UPSC Sends Back Panel for New DGP, Citing SC Order

Anticipating Singh’s retirement, the state government had forwarded a panel of eligible IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for approval. However, sources told Thenewsdose.com that the UPSC has returned the proposal, citing Supreme Court guidelines on police reforms:

• A state may send a panel only in anticipation of a vacancy.

• But in this case, Kapur is merely on leave — therefore the position of DGP cannot be treated as vacant.

The state is now left with two choices:

1. Reappoint Kapur as DGP once he returns, or

2. Post him to another department at an equivalent rank.

Kapur, who earlier served as CMD of the state power utilities, may be shifted back to the power sector in a senior capacity. A central posting also remains open — the Director General at the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has recently fallen vacant, and Kapur is already empanelled for that role.

Five Senior IPS Officers in Contention

If the government opts to move Kapur out of the police chief’s chair, five senior Haryana cadre IPS officers remain in the race for the next DGP:

• Shatrujeet S. Kapur (1990 batch) – retirement: Oct 31, 2026

• Sanjeev Kumar Jain (1991 batch) – retirement: Sept 30, 2026

• Ajay Singhal (1992 batch) – retirement: Oct 31, 2028

• Alok Mittal (1993 batch) – retirement: Jun 30, 2029

• Arshinder Singh Chawla (1993 batch) – retirement: Sept 30, 2027

With UPSC seeking a panel based on a clear vacancy, the state must first decide Kapur’s future role before proceeding with either an extension to the current DGP, O P Singh, or the appointment process for a new DGP.

Background: Suicide Note Named Senior Police, IAS Officers

The administrative uncertainty stems from the October 7 alleged suicide of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, who left behind a note naming over a dozen IAS and IPS officers, including Kapur. After Kumar’s family demanded action against all those mentioned, the then Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya was removed, while Kapur went on leave. A Chandigarh Police FIR followed, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by IGP Pushpendra Kumar is currently probing the case.