Chandigarh: The Government of Punjab is set to forward a panel of eligible IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission for the appointment of a regular Director General of Police, marking a significant move after nearly four years of functioning under an acting police chief.
Punjab has been operating with Gaurav Yadav as officiating DGP since July 2022, making it one of the longest cases of an acting DGP arrangement in the country.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed that the process of sending the panel is underway, indicating that the state government will now move in accordance with existing rules governing DGP appointments.
Punjab Working with Acting DGP Since 2022
Soon after coming to power in 2022, the AAP-led Punjab government appointed Gaurav Yadav, a 1992-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, as acting DGP.
His appointment came after superseding several senior officers, including –
- Sharad Satya Chauhan
- Harpreet Singh Sidhu
Both officers belong to the same batch and were senior to Yadav in service order.
Under Supreme Court norms, an officiating DGP can ordinarily continue only for a limited period while the regular appointment process is completed. However, Yadav has now served in the post for nearly four years.
Supreme Court Pressure and UPSC Reminders Trigger Movement
The move comes after the Supreme Court of India strongly objected to several states continuing with acting DGPs and directed them to initiate the process for regular appointments.
Following the court’s observations, UPSC wrote twice to Punjab:
- February 18, 2026
- March 5, 2026
In both communications, UPSC asked the Punjab government to send the list of eligible officers for empanelment.
UPSC Secretary Shashi Ranjan Kumar reportedly asked Punjab Chief Secretary K A P Sinha to personally examine the issue and ensure timely submission.
Punjab Police Amendment Bill Still Awaiting Presidential Approval
The state had earlier attempted to create its own mechanism for appointing a DGP through the Punjab Police Amendment Bill 2023.
The bill proposed –
- A seven-member state-controlled Empanelment Committee
- State-level selection of regular DGP without UPSC dependence
The Punjab Assembly passed the bill in 2023, but it remains pending with the President after being referred by the Governor.
Bhagwant Mann’s latest statement is significant because it signals a return to the UPSC route while the bill remains pending.
The Frontrunners: Senior Officers in Contention for DGP Post
The race for the top spot is dominated by the 1992 batch of IPS officers. While the current acting chief, Gaurav Yadav, is seen as a strong contender due to his four-year track record in the role, he faces stiff competition from his batchmates based on seniority and service records:
- Sharad Satya Chauhan: Currently heading the Punjab Police Housing Corporation and senior to Yadav in the gradation list.
- Harpreet Singh Sidhu: Known for his high-profile roles in anti-drug enforcement and central deputation.
- Kuldeep Singh: Currently leading the Anti-Drug Task Force (ANTF).
Punjab’s senior-most eligible officers have changed in recent months.
- Sanjeev Kalra, a 1989-batch officer serving as DGP (Home Guards and Civil Defence), retired on February 28 this year.
- Another senior officer, Parag Jain, also from the 1989 batch, is currently on central deputation and serving as chief of Research and Analysis Wing.
This changes the field of likely contenders for the top Punjab Police post.
Other Eligible Senior Officers
While the 1992 batch is the focus for the top spot, other DGP-rank officers in the Punjab cadre include –
- 1993 Batch: Gurpreet Kaur Deo, Varinder Kumar, Ishwar Singh, and Shashi Prabha Dwivedi.
- 1994 Batch: Dr. Naresh Kumar, Ram Singh, Sudhanshu Shekhar Srivastava, B. Chandra Sekhar, and Amardeep Singh Rai.
How UPSC Selects a Regular DGP
Under established rules, the UPSC empanelment committee selects three eligible officers from the list sent by the state government.
Selection is based on –
- Seniority
- Length of service
- Experience in policing
- Service record
The state government then chooses one officer from the UPSC-approved panel to appoint as DGP.
Punjab Seeks Change in Empanelment Committee Representation
Punjab has also requested UPSC to allow the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to represent the state in the empanelment committee instead of acting DGP Gaurav Yadav.
The reason is that Yadav himself is among the likely contenders for the post, making his participation in the selection process potentially inappropriate.
Officials say this request is aimed at maintaining neutrality during empanelment.
Political and Administrative Significance
The decision to finally move the panel is being viewed as an important administrative correction, especially after prolonged criticism over Punjab’s delayed compliance with Supreme Court norms.
The appointment of a regular DGP is expected to influence –
- Long-term policing strategy
- Administrative stability
- Senior IPS cadre balance in Punjab
The state’s next move will depend on how quickly the eligible panel is finalised and sent to UPSC.
