Madurai: The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu government to clarify the steps it is taking for the timely appointment of the next Director General of Police (DGP), as incumbent DGP Shankar Jiwal is set to retire on August 31.
A division bench comprising Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete issued the notice while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate K Yasar Arafath. The court asked the state to file a detailed response on the procedures it intends to adopt in line with Supreme Court directives and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) guidelines.
“Lack of Action May Undermine Rule of Law: Petitioner”
In his petition, Arafath argued that the state government has not initiated the mandatory empanelment process to select eligible IPS officers for the top police post. He claimed the failure to act promptly could lead to a vacuum in leadership, potentially compromising the independence and professionalism of the police force in Tamil Nadu.
The petitioner further urged the court to restrain the Home Secretary from either appointing any officer as an in-charge or acting DGP, or granting any extension to the current DGP, unless the selection process is carried out in compliance with established legal norms.
Also Read: PIL Filed in Madras High Court Seeking Timely Appointment of New Tamil Nadu DGP
“Court Seeks Clarity on UPSC and SC Guidelines”
The bench questioned the state government on:
- The standard procedure for empanelment of IPS officers.
- Its compliance with Supreme Court guidelines on DGP appointments.
- The timeline for submitting eligible candidates’ names to the UPSC for final recommendation.
The matter holds significant administrative weight, as the appointment of a regular DGP is governed by stringent rules laid out by the Supreme Court in the Prakash Singh case, which mandates transparency, merit-based selection, and a fixed tenure to ensure autonomy in policing.
The court has posted the matter for further hearing after the state files its response.
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