Chandigarh: In a significant development ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has sought a panel of eligible officers for the appointment of a permanent Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab.
Currently, Gaurav Yadav is serving as the acting DGP. According to police sources, the UPSC sent a letter on February 18, citing the February 5 order of the Supreme Court of India regarding the appointment process.
Following this, the Punjab Home Department has reportedly asked the DGP office to submit names of eligible senior officers for consideration.
Supreme Court flags acting DGP practice
Recently, the Supreme Court expressed concern over the continued practice of appointing acting DGPs, stating that such arrangements are not in line with established guidelines. The court directed the UPSC to independently seek names from state governments for regular appointments.
Selection process
As per the procedure, a committee comprising officials from the UPSC and the Union Home Ministry will shortlist three senior-most eligible officers. The state government will then have to appoint one of them as the permanent DGP.
Although neither the Punjab government nor Punjab Police has issued an official confirmation, the move indicates that the state is likely to have a regular DGP in place before the upcoming Assembly elections.
