New Delhi: The appointment of the next Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) has entered another phase of uncertainty after a PIL challenging the selection process was not listed before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, despite the Chief Justice-led bench indicating a day earlier that the matter would be heard on Wednesday.
The PIL was mentioned on Tuesday by senior advocate P Chidambaram before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana.
The petition alleges that the Odisha government is attempting to circumvent the Supreme Court’s Prakash Singh guidelines by promoting Additional Director General of Police (ADG)-rank officers to DGP rank and subsequently including them in the panel to be sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The matter is now expected to be mentioned again for urgent listing, reportedly on August 18.
Importantly, the Supreme Court has not stayed the Odisha DGP selection process.
What Is the Dispute Over the DGP Panel?
The controversy centres on the eligibility of officers who can be considered for appointment as the state police chief.
Under the Supreme Court’s directions arising from the Prakash Singh case, the state DGP is to be selected by the state government from among the three senior-most officers empanelled by the UPSC. The empanelment is based on factors including length of service, very good service record and the range of experience considered necessary to head the state police force.
The PIL alleges that Odisha initially forwarded three DGP-rank officers to the UPSC:
- Sudhansu Sarangi (IPS: 1990: OD)
- R P Koche (IPS: 1993: OD)
- Susanta Nath (IPS: 1993: OD)
The state subsequently expanded the panel by adding eight ADG-rank officers.
According to the petition, the UPSC was scheduled to consider the panel but the Odisha government later withdrew the list.
Sanjeeb Panda, Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa Promoted to DGP Rank
The issue gained further significance after the Odisha government promoted two 1994-batch IPS officers, Sanjeeb Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa, to the DGP rank.
The petition alleges that the promotions were intended to make the officers eligible for inclusion in a fresh panel being sent to the UPSC.
The move has therefore become a key point of contention in the legal challenge to the selection process.
Supreme Court Puts Responsibility on UPSC
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the Supreme Court observed that the UPSC was aware of the court’s earlier directions concerning selection of state police chiefs.
The bench indicated that the UPSC should ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions while considering any panel forwarded by the Odisha government.
Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that if a panel containing ineligible officers is sent, the UPSC is expected to act in accordance with the court’s directions.
The observation came amid the petitioner’s allegation that Odisha was attempting to include an officer who was not originally eligible for consideration at the DGP level.
UPSC Empanelment Committee Meeting on August 13
Despite the PIL not being listed on Wednesday, the DGP selection process is moving ahead at the administrative level.
The UPSC Empanelment Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, August 13, to consider a three-member panel for the Odisha government.
The meeting assumes considerable importance because the incumbent Odisha DGP, Y B Khurania (IPS: 1990: OD), is due to retire on August 16, 2026.
The timing of the UPSC meeting, the pending PIL and the recent promotions of Sanjeeb Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa have consequently created uncertainty over the final selection of Odisha’s next police chief.
No Stay on Selection Process
Although the PIL raises questions over the eligibility of officers and alleged attempts to bypass the Prakash Singhguidelines, the Supreme Court has not imposed a stay on the Odisha DGP selection process.
The immediate focus is therefore on Thursday’s UPSC Empanelment Committee meeting and whether a fresh three-member panel will be considered.
The legal challenge could subsequently come up for consideration if it is urgently listed, with August 18 being cited as the likely next opportunity for the matter to be mentioned.
Read Also: Race For Odisha DGP: Who Is IPS Sanjeeb Panda? Why 1994-Batch Officer Has An Edge
