SC seeks clarification on empanelment for DGPs

Asks UPSC Secy to tell if empanelment done by it or DoPT

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked UPSC Secretary to appear before it on Wednesday to explain if the empanelment of the senior IPS officers for promotion to the post of state DGPs was done by it or the Union government.

“We would like the Secretary of the Union Public Service Commission to apprise the court by January 16, 2019 at 10.30 am as to whether empanelment of IPS officers for promotion to the rank of DGP in different states of the Union is made by the Public Service Commission in the discharge of its functions,” a bench presided over by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said.

The court's direction came after advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for former Uttar Pradesh DGP Prakash Singh said that the lists of senior IPS officers were not prepared by the UPSC but by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

The court was hearing applications of various state governments, including Punjab, Haryana and Bihar, seeking permission to implement their local laws regarding selection and appointment of DGP.

Appearing for Punjab, senior advocate P Chidambaram contended that the Prakash Singh's judgement on police reforms passed in 2006 were effective till the time states passed their legislation of the issue.

The apex court had on December 12 last year, extended till January 31 the tenures of present DGPs of Punjab and Haryana and agreed to hear the states' pleas seeking to implement their local laws regarding selection and appointment of the police chief.

Several states are seeking modification of the apex court's earlier order directing all the states to mandatorily take the assistance of the UPSC in short-listing the names for appointing DGPs.