Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has resumed the process of appointing a regular Director-General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force (HoPF) following directions from the Supreme Court. The apex court had given the state a week to submit a fresh panel of eligible DGP-rank officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for empanelment.
Supreme Court Intervention
The Supreme Court’s orders came while disposing of a contempt petition filed by Kishore K. Swamy of Chennai, who alleged that the state government had violated guidelines in appointing a regular DGP. The apex court mandated:
- The state government to send a fresh panel of eligible officers within one week.
- The UPSC to complete empanelment within two weeks of receiving the list.
- The appointment of the regular DGP must be finalized within three weeks, ensuring a minimum tenure of two years, irrespective of superannuation, as per Prakash Singh guidelines.
The court’s intervention effectively ended a prolonged impasse in the appointment of a regular head of the Tamil Nadu police.
Top Contenders for DGP Post
According to seniority and previous UPSC shortlisting:
- Seema Agrawal (IPS: 1990: TN)
- Rajeev Kumar (IPS: 1992: TN)
- Sandeep Rai Rathore (IPS: 1992: TN)
These three officers were earlier shortlisted by the UPSC when Tamil Nadu submitted its panel in October 2025. However, the state government did not appoint any of them, and allowed G. Venkatraman (IPS: 1994: TN) to continue as DGP in charge.
Other DGP-rank officers in the state, in order of seniority, include:
- K. Vanniaperumal
- Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal
- Vinit Dev Wankhede
- Sanjay Mathur
- S. Davidson Devasirvatham
- Sandeep Mittal
- Bala Naga Devi
State vs Union Government Dispute
In October 2025, Law Minister S. Reghupathy publicly stated that the UPSC-recommended names were not acceptable to the Tamil Nadu government. He accused the Union government of attempting to appoint an officer of its choice, bypassing the state’s preferences.
Despite this, official sources indicate that the eligibility status of the top three officers remains unchanged, and Seema Agrawal, despite having about four months of residual service, may qualify because the calculation is based on the date the DGP vacancy arose—September 1, 2025.
Next Steps in Appointment Process
- State Government: Finalize and submit the fresh panel of eligible officers to UPSC within one week.
- UPSC: Shortlist three officers from the panel within two weeks.
- Appointment: The state government will select one officer from the shortlist as the regular DGP/HoPF.
Once appointed, the regular DGP will serve a minimum tenure of two years, strengthening stability and continuity in the state police leadership.
Implications
The resumption of the appointment process is expected to:
- End the prolonged acting tenure of the current DGP
- Align Tamil Nadu police leadership with Supreme Court guidelines
Ensure transparency, seniority compliance, and minimum tenure for better law-and-order management
