INFORM ABOUT PANEL TO NAME TOP COPS: SC TO UPSC SECY

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) secretary, Rakesh Kumar Gupta, to appear before it on Wednesday to explain how a panel of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers is prepared for the appointment of a state’s police chief.

A Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi-led bench issued the directive while hearing pleas that various state governments have filed seeking implementation of local laws regarding selection and appointment of police chiefs.

The states are seeking a modification to the top court’s earlier order directing the states to mandatorily take the UPSC’S assistance in shortlisting the names for the posts of police chiefs.

The Supreme Court had on July 3 last year issued directions on police reforms and laid down steps for the appointment of a police chief. The directions were issued after retired IPS officer, Prakash Singh, filed a petition on police reforms.

“But in the interim, we will abide by the court’s ruling and no transportation of coal will be allowed once we receive the order,” Sangma said.

The Supreme Court court also asked Meghalaya to give a report on whether any survey has been carried out in the state to identify areas, where illegal mining is on and what steps have been taken to curb it. It said that it might ask a panel to auction the extracted coal instead of letting the private miners sell it.