The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has returned the Maharashtra government’s slate of names for Director General of Police (DGP), asking it to add two more to the 12 already on it. The UPSC has also demanded the annual confidential reports (ACR) of all officers sent to it.
- Besides the ACRs, the UPSC has also asked the state home department to provide details of any pending inquiries against the officers.
How is the state DGP appointed?
- The Supreme Court of India in 2006 in Prakash Singh versus Union of India laid down the procedure for appointment of a police DGP.
- A DGP or head of the police force is to be selected by the state government from among the three senior most officers empanelled by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on the basis of — length of service, very good record and the range of experience for heading the police force.
- The selected DGP must have a minimum tenure of at least two years.
- In subsequent directions in 2018 and 2019, the apex court barred the state governments from appointing any officer as DGP on acting basis.
- The court also made it clear that “preparation of panel should be purely on the basis of merit from officers who have a minimum residual tenure of six months i.e officers who have at least six months of service prior to the retirement”.
- The court also said merit and seniority should be given due weightage.
(Source: Indian Express)
