In a significant development amid the continuing ethnic and civil unrest in Manipur, the Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the state government to appoint a Director General of Police (DGP) from outside the Manipur cadre.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi passed the order while hearing a plea filed by the Manipur government seeking urgent directions regarding the appointment of a new police chief.
The court noted that the tenure of the current DGP, Rajiv Singh, an IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, is set to end on May 31.
“In the peculiar facts and circumstances prevailing in the State, the prayer has been made to appoint the Director General of Police from outside Manipur cadre. We find merit in the prayer,” the bench observed while allowing the application.
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Centre Cites Lack of Suitable Officers
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that despite considering eligible officers, authorities were unable to identify a candidate within the Manipur cadre possessing the required level of competence for the sensitive position.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati also highlighted the urgency of the matter, informing the bench that Rajiv Singh would retire on May 31, necessitating immediate directions for a replacement.
The plea filed by the Manipur government briefly outlined the unprecedented ethnic violence and prolonged instability that has affected the state over the past months, arguing that exceptional circumstances warranted the appointment of a DGP from outside the state cadre.
The court’s order is being seen as an extraordinary administrative measure aimed at strengthening policing and restoring stability in the conflict-hit northeastern state.
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