New Delhi/Chennai: In a significant development that could soon resolve the leadership vacuum in Tamil Nadu’s police force, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will convene the Empanelment Committee Meeting (ECM) on September 26, 2025, in New Delhi to finalise a panel of three IPS officers for the post of Director General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force (HoPF) for Tamil Nadu.
High-Level Committee to Meet Under UPSC Chairman
The ECM will be chaired by the UPSC Chairman and include the Union Home Secretary, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, and a senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs, nominated from among the Central Police Organisations (CPOs) or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
Unlike usual practice, the in-charge HoPF, G. Venkatraman (IPS:1994:TN), will not participate in the committee as he is himself in the race for the top post.
Read also: IPS G. Venkataraman Appointed Acting DGP of Tamil Nadu Amid Deviation from SC Guidelines, Following Shankar Jiwal’s Retirement
Top Contenders for Tamil Nadu DGP Post
The Tamil Nadu government has submitted the names of eight DGP-rank officers to the UPSC. Based on seniority and service record, the top contenders are:
- Seema Agrawal (IPS:1992:TN)
- Rajeev Kumar (IPS:1992:TN)
- Sandeep Rai Rathore (IPS:1992:TN)
- Other officers under consideration include:
- K Vanniaperumal (IPS:1992:TN)
- Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal (IPS:1994:TN)
- G Venkatraman (IPS:1994:TN)
- Vinit Dev Wankhede (IPS:1994:TN)
- Sanjay Mathur (IPS:1994:TN)
However, two senior officers — Pramod Kumar (IPS:1989:TN) and Abhay Kumar Singh (IPS:1992:TN) — are unlikely to be considered, as they have less than six months of service remaining, disqualifying them under the Prakash Singh judgment.
If selected, Seema Agrawal would become only the second woman DGP in Tamil Nadu’s history, following Letika Saran who served from 2010 to 2011.
Delay in Panel Submission Draws Judicial Criticism
The empanelment process has been marred by delays. The Tamil Nadu government failed to submit the list of eligible officers to the UPSC three months before the retirement of former DGP Shankar Jiwal (IPS:1990:TN), who demitted office on August 31, 2025.
This lapse led to the appointment of G Venkatraman as in-charge DGP from September 1, and also resulted in a contempt petition in the Supreme Court. On September 9, 2025, the apex court directed the UPSC to finalise the panel “expeditiously” and asked the Tamil Nadu government to appoint a regular DGP without delay.
Earlier, the State had cited a pending case before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to justify the delay, but that petition was dismissed on April 30, 2025.
New Selection Rules Under Single Window System
This year, the process will be conducted under UPSC’s Single Window System, a new mechanism aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability. Under this system, the State Chief Secretary must certify the eligibility of all officers and issue an Integrity Certificate before the ECM begins.
Final Appointment Expected by Early October
Once the UPSC finalises the panel of three officers on September 26, the Tamil Nadu government is expected to act quickly and appoint a full-time DGP by early October 2025, official sources confirmed.
The upcoming decision will not only determine the next top cop in Tamil Nadu but also signal the government’s commitment to police leadership stability and institutional integrity.
