Bengaluru: In a historic decision for police leadership in Karnataka, the state government has extended the tenure of Alok Mohan (IPS:1987:KN), the current Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP), until May 21, 2025. The extension ensures that Mohan completes the mandatory two-year fixed term, as directed by the Supreme Court in the landmark Prakash Singh case on police reforms.
Originally slated to retire on April 30, 2025, Alok Mohan’s tenure was extended by treating May 21, 2023—the date he assumed charge as in-charge DG&IGP—as the official start of his fixed term. His formal confirmation as DGP came later, on August 5, 2023.
This marks the first time in Karnataka’s history that a DGP’s tenure has been extended beyond the age of superannuation to fulfill the Supreme Court’s mandate. The move reflects the state government’s commitment to institutional continuity, police independence, and compliance with judicial guidelines.
The Prakash Singh judgement, delivered in 2006, mandates a minimum two-year tenure for police chiefs to safeguard against arbitrary transfers and strengthen law enforcement leadership. The Karnataka government had earlier affirmed its intent to follow the ruling in an affidavit submitted during 2019–2020.
In contrast, previous DGPs such as Neelmani N. Raju (IPS:1983) and Praveen Sood (IPS:1986) had over two years of service left when appointed, making tenure extensions unnecessary in those cases.
The extension of Alok Mohan’s term is expected to provide stability at the helm of Karnataka Police, reinforcing both operational leadership and adherence to much-needed police reforms.
