New Delhi: The Supreme Court is examining questions surrounding the selection process for Odisha’s next Director General of Police (DGP), with Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran raising concerns over changes made to the eligibility list and the promotion of two IPS officers shortly before the empanelment process.
Ramachandran, who is assisting the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, questioned whether the procedure followed by the Odisha government was consistent with the Supreme Court’s directions in the Prakash Singh case. The matter was heard on September 7, after which the court deferred further consideration to September 16.
Amicus Raises Questions Over Eligibility List
According to the submissions, the Odisha government had originally forwarded a list of 11 eligible IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on May 14, 2026, for preparation of a panel of three candidates for the DGP post.
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The amicus has questioned the subsequent changes to this list, particularly the removal of Sushant Kumar Nath, a 1993-batch senior IPS officer of the Odisha cadre and the later inclusion of officers who were promoted to the DG grade.
Ramachachandran has suggested that the UPSC Empanelment Committee should consider the original eligibility list submitted on May 14, rather than the updated list prepared after the August promotions.
Questions Over Sushant Nath’s Exclusion
The submissions also questioned the circumstances in which Nath was excluded from the DGP selection process.
The state had raised questions with the UPSC about Nath’s role in connection with alleged irregularities in the 2025 police recruitment examination. The UPSC reportedly indicated that he could be questioned if necessary.
The amicus has asked the state to explain whether the officer’s integrity certificate was withheld and whether the decision was based on sufficient material and proper application of mind.
Two Officers Promoted Before DGP Empanelment
The controversy also centres on the promotion of 1994-batch IPS officers of the Odisha cadre Sanjeeb Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa to the DG grade on August 10.
Their elevation came amid the ongoing process to select a successor to Y.B. Khurania, the then Odisha DGP and a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Odisha cadre, who retired on August 16. The promotions subsequently became relevant to the DGP selection process, with reports indicating that the two officers could be considered in the revised list sent to the UPSC.
The amicus has questioned the timing of these promotions and the resulting alteration of the eligibility list, arguing that the circumstances warrant examination by the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Examining Compliance With Prakash Singh Guidelines
The case stems from a challenge to the procedure adopted by Odisha for selecting its next police chief. The petitioners have alleged that the state’s process did not comply with the safeguards laid down by the Supreme Court in the Prakash Singh judgment, which sought to insulate the appointment of state police chiefs from external influence.
The Supreme Court has now listed the matter for September 16, with the parties expected to respond to the submissions made by the amicus curiae.
