6 officers in fray for DGP’s post, state sends list to UPSC

The state government has sent the names of 6 IPS officers to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for appointment of next Director General of Police (DGP), home department officials said.

The present DGP, DK Pandey will retire on May 31. The list, in the descending order of preference, comprises VH Rao Deshmukh, Kamal Nayan Choubey, Niraj Sinja, PRK Naidu, MV Rao, Reji Dungdung.

Deshmukh and Choubey are now on central deputation, with the former as the additional director general of Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and the latter as the DG of BSF’s Western command in Chandigarh.

As per rules, UPSC will recommend three officers, of which the state government will appoint one. Earlier, the Supreme Court on July 3, 2018 issued several directions for police reforms in the country, including appointment of DGPs.

It directed all state governments/UT’s to send a list of probable candidates to the UPSC, of which the commission would prepare a list of 3 most suitable officers.

The SC had said efforts would be made to select a candidate who had a reasonable period of service left. The judgement had underlined that state police laws had to be “kept in abeyance.”

The apex court had also directed not to appoint any acting DGP. The list of the officers had to be sent three months before the superannuation date of the concerned DGP, it said.

“The UPSC is expected to send the names of 3 officers in April,” a senior officer said.