The race for Telangana’s next full-time police chief has formally begun. Days after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) directed the state to initiate the process for appointing a permanent Director General of Police (DGP), the Telangana government on Monday submitted a list of eligible DGP-rank officers for consideration.
However, uncertainty persists over whether the name of the incumbent in-charge DGP, B. Shivadhar Reddy, figures in the list. Sources indicate that while one version of the list includes his name among six probables, another suggests it was excluded due to his impending retirement at the end of April, leaving him with less than six months of service.
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Among the officers believed to be in contention are CV Anand, Prabhakar Apte, Sowmya Mishra, Shikha Goel, and Abhilasha Bisht — all senior officers of DGP rank.
SUPREME COURT DEADLINE DRIVES PROCESS
The development follows a February 5 directive from the Supreme Court, which granted the UPSC four weeks to finalise the DGP selection in line with the guidelines laid down in the landmark Prakash Singh vs. Union of India case. The apex court had pulled up nine states, including Telangana, for not adhering to the mandated procedure and instead appointing officers of their choice as in-charge DGPs.
The Prakash Singh judgment requires states to send a panel of eligible officers to the UPSC, which then shortlists candidates based on merit, seniority, and service record before the final appointment is made.
With the deadline clock ticking, the focus now shifts to the UPSC’s scrutiny of the names forwarded by the state. The inclusion or exclusion of the current in-charge DGP could influence the final shortlist.
The appointment is being closely watched, as it will set the tone for police leadership in Telangana and signal the state’s compliance with Supreme Court-mandated reforms in police administration.
