Chandigarh: The Haryana Government on Tuesday forwarded a panel of senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the appointment of the state’s new Director General of Police (DGP), following the formal divestment of Shatrujeet Kapur from the charge of head of the police force.
The move comes as the state prepares for an impending vacancy with incumbent DGP OP Singh set to retire on December 31.
Kapur Hands Over Charge, Vacancy Formally Created
Shatrujeet Kapur formally handed over charge at the police headquarters on Sunday, clearing procedural hurdles that earlier prevented the state from notifying a vacancy. The government has now officially communicated to the UPSC that a clear vacancy will arise after OP Singh’s retirement.
Earlier, the UPSC had declined to act on the state’s proposal, citing the absence of a vacancy since Kapur, though on leave, could resume charge at any time.
Panel of Five IPS Officers Sent to UPSC
The Haryana Government has forwarded the same panel of five IPS officers, all holding the rank of DGP, along with Kapur’s fresh posting order. The panel includes –
- Shatrujeet Kapur (IPS, 1990 batch)
- Sanjeev Kumar Jain (IPS, 1991 batch)
- Ajay Singhal (IPS, 1992 batch)
- Alok Mittal (IPS, 1993 batch)
- Dr AS Chawla (IPS, 1993 batch)
With Kapur now formally divested of charge, the state believes the UPSC can proceed with the selection process.
Background: Kapur’s Leave and Legal Case
It may be recalled that Shatrujeet Kapur had already completed his two-year tenure as DGP, but was asked to proceed on leave after being named as an accused in a case related to the alleged abetment of suicide of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar.
The issue had complicated the appointment process, as Kapur technically continued to hold charge during his leave period.
Guidelines Governing DGP Appointment
As per the revised 2023 guidelines, the zone of consideration for the DGP post includes officers –
- Holding the post of DGP in the state cadre
- Placed at Level-16 of the pay matrix
- Having at least six months of residual service as on the date of vacancy
The state government is also required to submit integrity certificates and details of pending criminal proceedings, if any, for the officers under consideration.
Supreme Court’s Prakash Singh Judgment
The appointment process is governed by the 2006 Prakash Singh judgment of the Supreme Court, which mandates that –
- The state government must select the DGP from a UPSC-empanelled list of the three senior-most officers
- Selection must be based on length of service, performance record, and experience
- The selected DGP is entitled to a minimum tenure of two years, regardless of the date of superannuation
Next Steps
With the vacancy now formally established, the UPSC is expected to convene its empanelment committee and recommend names, enabling the Haryana Government to appoint the next DGP in accordance with constitutional and judicial guidelines.
