Chennai: In a key administrative reshuffle, senior IPS officer G. Venkataraman (1994 batch, Tamil Nadu Cadre), currently serving as Director General of Police (Administration), has been appointed as the Acting Director General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force (HoPF) for the state of Tamil Nadu. The appointment came into effect following the retirement of the incumbent DGP Shankar Jiwal (IPS:1990:TN) on August 31, 2025.
The official order for the appointment was issued on Sunday and marks a significant leadership transition in the state’s top policing post.
Read More: Tamil Nadu Police: Senior IPS Officer G Venkatraman to Be Appointed Acting DGP Amid UPSC Panel Delay
Shankar Jiwal Bids Farewell, Moves to Fire Commission
Shankar Jiwal was given a ceremonial farewell on his last working day, August 29, after serving the Tamil Nadu Police with distinction. As part of a new administrative setup, he has been appointed Chairman of the newly constituted Fire Commission, a role he will formally assume on Monday, September 1, 2025.
Vinit Dev Wankhede Appointed CMD of Police Housing Corporation
In a parallel development, Vinit Dev Wankhede (IPS:1994:TN), DGP (Headquarters), has been appointed Chairman and Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation Ltd. He takes over the position from Shailesh Kumar Yadav (IPS:1993:TN), whose retirement also took effect on August 31, 2025.
Deviation from SC Guidelines Raises Eyebrows
In a significant departure from established procedure, the Tamil Nadu government has not followed the Supreme Court’s guidelines regarding the appointment of a regular DGP. As per SC directives, DGP appointments are to be made from a panel of eligible officers empaneled by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Official sources indicate that while the list of eligible DGP-rank officers has been sent to the UPSC for empanelment, the state government has opted for an interim arrangement by appointing G. Venkataraman as Acting DGP.
What Lies Ahead
Until the UPSC finalizes the panel and the state government makes a permanent selection, G. Venkataraman will be overseeing the police force in an acting capacity. The decision marks a crucial phase in Tamil Nadu’s law enforcement leadership and could have wider implications on the balance between state discretion and judicial mandates in high-level police appointments.
