New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, Aug. 12 (UDN): The appointment of Odisha’s next Director General of Police (DGP) will come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the state government’s selection process.
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Senior advocate P Chidambaram, appearing for the petitioner, has alleged that the Odisha government has not followed the procedure prescribed by the Supreme Court in its landmark 2006 Prakash Singh judgment on police reforms and DGP appointments.
The plea has raised questions over the eligibility of officers included in the selection process and alleged that the state government’s approach could undermine the safeguards laid down by the apex court.
Selection process under legal challenge
The controversy gained momentum after 1994-batch IPS officers Sanjeeb Panda and Yashwant Jethwa were promoted to the rank of DGP amid preparations to appoint a new state police chief.
The petitioner has questioned whether the officers included in the process meet the criteria prescribed under the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
The legal challenge comes just ahead of a crucial stage in the selection process, with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) scheduled to consider the eligible officers and prepare a panel.
Four officers in consideration
The Odisha government has reportedly forwarded a fresh list comprising four IPS officers for consideration:
Sudhanshu Sarangi, 1990-batch IPS
RP Koche, 1993-batch IPS
Sanjeeb Panda, 1994-batch IPS
Yashwant Jethwa, 1994-batch IPS
The UPSC is expected to shortlist three names from the list. The final decision on the appointment of Odisha’s next DGP will subsequently rest with the state government.
Supreme Court hearing could impact process
Wednesday’s hearing is being closely watched as the court’s observations could have a bearing on the ongoing selection exercise.
The petitioner has sought adherence to the procedure established by the Supreme Court for appointing state police chiefs, while the government is proceeding with the selection process.
The UPSC meeting scheduled for August 13 is expected to be the next major step in the appointment exercise.
With the tenure and appointment of the next police chief already emerging as a contentious issue, the Supreme Court’s decision could determine whether the present selection process moves ahead or requires further changes.
The hearing is therefore likely to be crucial for both the state government and the officers under consideration as Odisha moves towards appointing its next DGP.
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