SC Backs UPSC: Rejects Petition By Five States Demanding Overhaul Of DGP Appointment Process

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (16 January) rejected an application filed by several states to appoint Director Generals of Police (DGPs) through an internal state committee rather than Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Times of India has reported.

An application was filed earlier in the apex court by Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala, Bihar and Haryana, seeking to implement their local laws in selection and appointment of DGP.

Supreme Court, on Tuesday (15 January), had asked the UPSC secretary to appear in person and inform the court if the commission prepares a panel of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers for DGP appointments by state governments.

An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that the court’s earlier directions on selection and appointments of DGPs were issued in larger public interest and to protect the police officials from political interference.

According to the report, the direction came after lawyer Prashant Bhushan said that the lists of senior IPS officers are prepared by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and not by UPSC.

Last Year, on 3 July, Supreme Court had passed a number of directions on police reforms and chronicled the steps for appointment of regular DGPs.

As per the report, a 2006 judgement of the apex court in Prakash Singh case had ordered that UPSC would prepare a panel of senior police officers from which a state can choose a DGP.