Chandigarh: The process of selecting the next Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Chandigarh has begun, around four months before the scheduled end of the tenure of incumbent SSP Kanwardeep Kaur.
According to a media report, the Punjab government has initiated the exercise to identify her successor. Three Punjab-cadre IPS officers of the 2014 batch are currently being discussed for the position: Varun Sharma, Gaurav Toora and Harish Dayama.
The Punjab Police Headquarters has been asked to prepare a panel of eligible officers for the Chandigarh SSP post. The proposed panel will subsequently be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Chandigarh Administration, which will take the final decision on the appointment.
No officer has been finalised for the position so far.
Three IPS Officers in Contention
The three IPS officers whose names are reportedly under consideration are:
- Varun Sharma (IPS: 2014: Punjab): Among the officers being discussed for the Chandigarh SSP position.
- Gaurav Toora (IPS: 2014: Punjab): Another officer whose name has emerged during the selection exercise.
- Harish Dayama (IPS: 2014: Punjab): Also among the three officers reportedly being considered.
The Punjab Police Headquarters will prepare the proposed panel before it is sent to the MHA and Chandigarh Administration for further consideration.
Kanwardeep Kaur to Complete Extended Tenure in March 2027
The current Chandigarh SSP, Kanwardeep Kaur, is a 2013-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre. She assumed charge as SSP on March 9, 2023.
Her initial three-year deputation tenure ended in March 2026. The Central Government subsequently granted her a one-year extension, allowing her to continue in the position until March 2027.
The selection process for her successor has now been initiated ahead of the completion of her extended tenure. The final appointment will be made after the proposed panel is considered by the concerned authorities.
