Punjab is set to get a regular Director General of Police (DGP) soon after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) asked the state government to submit a panel of eligible officers within 10 days.
The Commission’s directive follows recent instructions from the Supreme Court of India, which criticized the practice of appointing acting DGPs in several states and directed UPSC to ensure compliance with its earlier rulings.
In a letter dated February 18 to the Punjab Chief Secretary, UPSC referred to the Supreme Court’s February 5 order, its landmark September 2006 judgment in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India case, and the July 3, 2018 directions regarding the appointment of state police chiefs. The Commission requested Punjab to submit a complete proposal within the stipulated timeframe.
Currently, 1992-batch IPS officer Gaurav Yadav has been serving as the acting DGP since July 2022 after being appointed by the AAP-led government. He has held the position for over three years and seven months.
Punjab has a top-heavy police structure with 17 officers of DGP rank. Among the senior-most officers of the Punjab cadre, 1989-batch IPS officer Sanjeev Kalra, who is set to retire on February 28, may fall out of consideration due to the six-month minimum service rule for DGP appointment.
As per procedure, the UPSC panel committee is expected to shortlist three candidates based on seniority, experience, and service record. The Punjab government will then select one officer from the panel as the regular DGP.
The UPSC empanelment committee includes the UPSC Chairman or a member, the Union Home Secretary or nominee, a head of a central police organization nominated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the state Chief Secretary, and the incumbent DGP.
The move signals that Punjab may soon see the appointment of a permanent police chief in compliance with Supreme Court-mandated police reforms.
