Chandigarh: CM Bhagwant Mann has said that the Punjab government will follow the prescribed procedure and send a panel of IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission for appointment of the state’s Director General of Police, even though the state has already missed the deadline fixed for the process.
The statement comes amid growing scrutiny over Punjab continuing with an officiating police chief for an unusually long period, making it one of the longest such arrangements in the country.
CM Says Punjab Will Send Panel to UPSC
Addressing the media in Chandigarh while presenting achievements of his government after four years in office, Bhagwant Mann said the state was already in the process of forwarding the required panel.
“We are in the process of sending a panel. We will follow rules,” the Chief Minister said, effectively ending speculation that the state might avoid the UPSC route due to its pending legislation on DGP appointment.
His statement is significant because Punjab had not sent the panel by the February 28, 2026 deadline fixed by UPSC.
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Punjab Misses February 28 Deadline for DGP Panel
The UPSC had earlier asked Punjab to submit a panel of eligible IPS officers by February 28 for empanelment and final selection of a regular DGP.
Sources indicate that the Centre had also sent a reminder to the state government after the deadline passed without compliance.
The delay had triggered questions over whether Punjab intended to rely on a state law passed by the Assembly that seeks to authorise the state government to appoint its own DGP without UPSC involvement.
Punjab Bill on DGP Appointment Still Awaiting Presidential Assent
Punjab’s Vidhan Sabha had passed a Bill aimed at allowing the state to appoint its own police chief independently.
However, the Bill is still pending approval from Droupadi Murmu for assent.
Until the Bill receives assent, the existing Supreme Court-backed procedure requiring UPSC empanelment remains applicable.
Bhagwant Mann’s latest statement therefore signals that the state will continue to follow the current legal framework until any constitutional change is formally approved.
Gaurav Yadav Continues as Officiating DGP Beyond Permissible Period
Punjab currently has one of the country’s longest-serving officiating police chiefs in Gaurav Yadav, a 1992-batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre.
He was appointed officiating DGP on July 5, 2022.
Under existing rules, an officiating DGP arrangement is generally permitted only for six months.
However, Gaurav Yadav has now completed nearly three years and eight months in the role.
This unusually extended tenure has drawn attention because states are expected to appoint a regular DGP from a UPSC-cleared panel of senior officers.
Mann’s Position Seen as Shift from Earlier State Stand
Officials note that the Chief Minister’s statement marks a departure from earlier indications that Punjab might rely on the pending state legislation to bypass UPSC.
The earlier position had gained momentum after the Assembly passed the Bill seeking state-level control over DGP appointments.
Now, by confirming that Punjab will send the panel, Mann has indicated that the state does not wish to risk further procedural complications while the Bill remains pending.
DGP Appointment Issue Gains Administrative Significance
The DGP appointment issue has become significant not only from an administrative standpoint but also because Punjab has maintained continuity in police leadership during a period marked by law and order challenges, border security concerns and anti-drug operations.
A regular appointment through UPSC would formalise the leadership position and align the state with the Supreme Court-mandated police reform framework.
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