New Delhi: The Supreme Court is examining the process followed by the Odisha government in recommending IPS officers for appointment as the state’s Director General of Police, with questions raised over the withdrawal of senior officer Susanta Kumar Nath’s integrity certificate and the timing of the government’s communications with the CBI.
A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana has been hearing a petition concerning Nath’s exclusion from the DGP selection process. The court has sought clarity on the sequence of events leading to the withdrawal of his integrity certificate and the revised proposal sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Supreme Court Questions Basis for Nath’s Exclusion
Nath, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Odisha-cadre, was among the officers whose names were initially forwarded to the UPSC for consideration. The state later withdrew his integrity certificate after the CBI indicated that he might need to be examined in connection with its investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of police sub-inspectors.
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According to the State’s submissions reported during the September 24 hearing, the CBI had said that Nath “may be required to be examined” after certain other officials were examined and the necessary permission was obtained. The State maintained that the investigation was still underway.
The Supreme Court questioned whether the withdrawal of the integrity certificate effectively treated Nath as an accused merely because the CBI might examine him.
CBI Probe and Other Officers Mentioned Before Court
The proceedings have also brought attention to other IPS officers whose names were included in the DGP selection process. Earlier reports identified Sudhanshu Sarangi, Susanta Kumar Nath and R.P. Koche among the senior officers initially considered, while the State later expanded the list to 11 officers. Sanjeeb Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa were subsequently promoted to the DGP rank in August.
R.P. Koche, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Odisha cadre and Sanjeeb Panda, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the Odisha cadre. Koche was serving as ADG, Anti-Naxal Operations, while Panda was serving as Director, Vigilance, in the May 2026 disposition list.
Recent reports have also raised questions about whether the State sought updated information concerning CBI proceedings involving officers other than Nath before forwarding their names. These assertions have been raised in the context of the ongoing litigation and should not be treated as findings by the court.
Dispute Over State’s Affidavit
During the September 24 hearing, counsel for Nath questioned the wording used by the Odisha government in its affidavit concerning the CBI’s communication.
The petitioner’s side has argued that there was a difference between stating that Nath “will be examined” and the CBI’s reported position that he “may be required to be examined” after certain other steps in the investigation.
The State, however, has maintained that its decision followed the information received from the CBI and that the investigation into the SI recruitment case remains ongoing. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the State had reviewed the integrity certificates of eligible officers before sending the revised proposal.
Earlier Questions Over DGP Selection Process
The Supreme Court proceedings have also covered the manner in which Odisha prepared its panel of eligible IPS officers. The dispute includes questions about the addition of officers to the list, promotions made before empanelment and compliance with the procedure flowing from the Supreme Court’s directions in the Prakash Singh case.
The State had initially sent a smaller group of senior officers to the UPSC before expanding the proposal to 11 names. The UPSC’s empanelment process was subsequently affected by the litigation before the Supreme Court.
The court has also heard submissions from the amicus curiae appointed in the matter. Reports from the proceedings said the Solicitor General apologised in court over remarks made by Odisha’s Advocate General concerning the amicus curiae.
Next Hearing on September 29
The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 29, 2026. The proceedings will determine the next steps concerning the State’s revised proposal and the appointment process for Odisha’s police chief.
The dispute stems from the vacancy created after former DGP Y.B. Khurania’s (IPS: 1990: Odisha), tenure ended in August 2026. The Supreme Court’s intervention has kept the DGP selection process under judicial consideration while the eligibility and empanelment issues are examined.
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