New Delhi/Chennai: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has finalised a panel of three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers for the appointment of Director General of Police (DGP) or Head of Police Force (HoPF) of Tamil Nadu. This key development comes after an Empanelment Committee Meeting held in Delhi on September 26, 2025. The panel list has now been officially sent to the Tamil Nadu government, which is expected to appoint a permanent police chief shortly.
Supreme Court’s Role in Expediting Appointment
The process gained momentum following a Supreme Court directive amid a contempt petition hearing, which ordered the UPSC to complete the empanelment process without delay. The Court also mandated that the appointed DGP should have a fixed tenure of at least two years to ensure stability in the state’s police leadership.
Officers on the Shortlist
The Tamil Nadu government had earlier submitted a list of eight eligible IPS officers of DGP rank in late August 2025 for consideration. After careful evaluation, UPSC shortlisted three officers in order of seniority–
- Seema Agrawal
- Rajeev Kumar
- Sandeep Rai Rathore
Other officers considered for the position included K Vanniaperumal, Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, G. Venkatraman (currently serving as in-charge DGP/HoPF), Vinit Dev Wankhede, and Sanjay Mathur.
Next Steps and Expectations
With the panel in place, the Tamil Nadu government will now move forward to appoint a regular DGP from the list. This appointment is significant, given the vital role the DGP plays in maintaining law and order, overseeing police administration, and implementing key security measures in the state.
The fixed tenure of two years, as per the Supreme Court’s order, aims to provide continuity and strengthen police leadership in Tamil Nadu.
Background
Tamil Nadu has witnessed frequent changes in the DGP post in recent years, prompting the Supreme Court to intervene for ensuring a fixed tenure and a transparent appointment process. The current in-charge DGP, G. Venkatraman, will continue to hold the position until a regular DGP is appointed.
