Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has once again sent a fresh proposal to the Union Public Service Commission for the appointment of a permanent Director General of Police (DGP), in compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court of India.
According to official sources, the revised proposal – submitted last week through the Chief Secretary – includes names of IPS officers up to the 1994 batch. The move comes after the earlier proposal sent in March was returned by the Commission over technical objections linked to updated appointment guidelines.
The Commission is now expected to prepare a panel of three senior officers from the list submitted by the state government, from which one officer will eventually be selected as Uttar Pradesh’s permanent police chief.
Rajiv Krishna Seen as Strong Contender
Sources indicate that the government may ultimately decide to appoint Rajiv Krishna, the current acting DGP, as the permanent DGP of Uttar Pradesh.
Rajiv Krishna, a 1991-batch IPS officer, took charge after the retirement of Prashant Kumar and currently continues as acting police chief. His service tenure extends until June 2029, making him one of the strongest eligible candidates under UPSC norms.
Why the Proposal Was Sent Again
The earlier proposal sent by the state government on March 19 was returned by UPSC because it did not conform to the revised procedural format.
This time, the proposal has been prepared in a broader format and includes all officers up to the 1994 batch – covering officers posted in Uttar Pradesh as well as those serving on central deputation.
Previously, only officers who had completed 30 years of service were considered in the state’s submission.
Officers Included in the Fresh Proposal
The revised proposal includes names from multiple senior IPS batches:
1990 Batch
- Renuka Mishra
1991 Batch
- Alok Sharma
- Piyush Anand
- Rajiv Krishna
- P. C. Meena
1992 Batch
- Ashutosh Pandey
- Anand Swarup
- Neera Rawat
1993 Batch
- Sanjay Singhal
- S. B. Shiradkar
- Zaki Ahmed
- K. S. Pratap Kumar
- Rajiv Sabbarwal
- Vitul Kumar
1994 Batch
- B. K. Singh
- Akhil Kumar
- Raja Srivastava
- D. K. Thakur
- Sujeet Pandey
- Prakash D.
- L. V. Antony Dev Kumar
- J. N. Singh
Eligibility Rule: Minimum Six Months Service Required
Under UPSC guidelines, an officer must have at least six months of remaining service tenure to be eligible for appointment as DGP.
Because of this rule, Alok Sharma, Neera Rawat and L.V. Antony Dev Kumar may face eligibility limitations as each has less than six months of service remaining.
Supreme Court Hearing Scheduled
The urgency behind the fresh proposal is linked to a hearing scheduled in the Supreme Court on April 1, during which both the Uttar Pradesh government and UPSC are required to explain the status of permanent DGP appointment.
By sending the revised proposal through the Chief Secretary, the state government has formally completed its procedural part before the hearing.
UPSC Panel of Three Officers to Be Prepared
After reviewing the state’s submission, UPSC will convene a meeting to finalise a panel of three officers.
The meeting is expected to include:
- UPSC Chairperson
- Officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs
- UP Chief Secretary
- Principal Secretary, Home Department
The Commission will then send back a shortlist of three names, from which one officer will be chosen as permanent DGP.
Debate Over Existing DGP Selection Rules
Asim Arun has criticised the current appointment framework, calling it discriminatory.
He stated that the Commission’s practice of selecting officers strictly by seniority gives a structural advantage to those who joined service at a younger age.
According to him, this may disadvantage many capable officers, including those who entered service later or through reservation categories.
UP Without Permanent DGP for Nearly Four Years
Uttar Pradesh has not had a permanent DGP since the removal of Mukul Goel in May 2022.
Since then, the state has seen a series of acting DGPs:
- Devendra Singh Chauhan
- Rajkumar Vishwakarma
- Vijay Kumar
- Prashant Kumar
- Rajiv Krishna
This prolonged absence of a full-time DGP has repeatedly drawn legal and administrative scrutiny.
Read Also: Punjab DGP Appointment: State to Send IPS Panel to UPSC After Four Years, Top Contenders in Focus
