SC Dismisses pleas on Appointment of DGPs

The Supreme Court has dismissed the pleas of the states of Punjab, Kerala, West Bengal, Haryana and Bihar which sought implementation of their local laws regarding the selection and appointment of DGPs.
Dismissing the petition the Supreme Court held that the directions of the court on selection and appointment of DGPs were issued in larger public interest and to protect the police officials from political interference.

Directions issued by the Supreme Court in appointing DGPs

The Supreme Court had issued following directions to the states on appointing DGPs:

• The states and Union Territories are required to send names of senior police officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for being considered as probable candidates for the post of DGPs or police commissioners (as per applicability)
• The UPSC would then prepare a list of three most suitable candidates out of the list of names sent by states and Union Territories.
• The states are free to appoint any one of them as the police chief.
• It is mandatory for the states to send the list of senior police officers to the UPSC at least three months prior to the retirement of the incumbent.
• The UPSC would then form a committee and intimate the state concerned, which in turn will immediately appoint one of the persons from among that list.

However, the Supreme Court had granted some relaxation to the states which already had laws related to appointment of DGPs. The Supreme Court had asked those states to move a plea before it, seeking modification of the order.
States of Punjab, Kerala, West Bengal, Haryana and Bihar had sought the modifications of the Supreme Court order citing their local laws.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2019