The Odisha government has proposed a panel of 11 senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), initiating the process to appoint a successor to Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania, whose tenure concludes on August 31.
Revised List Submitted to UPSC
Earlier this month, the state had forwarded three names, but following instructions from the UPSC, a broader list of 11 officers was submitted last week, a senior government official confirmed. The panel includes Sudhanshu Sarangi (1990 batch), Susanta Kumar Nath and R P Koche (1993), Sanjeeb Panda and Yeshwant Kumar Jethwa (1994), Ritu Arora, Saumendra Priyadarshi, Santosh Bala and P S Ranpise (1995), along with Arun Bothra and Sunita Kakran (1996). Among them, Sarangi, Nath, and Koche hold DGP rank, while the others are Additional Directors General of Police (ADGPs) with over three decades of service.
Eligibility Criteria and Procedure
As per the standard procedure, states are required to propose DGP-rank officers who meet seniority and eligibility norms, with at least six months of service remaining before retirement from the date of vacancy. In 2023, the UPSC reduced the minimum service requirement from 30 to 25 years, enabling smaller states and Union territories to nominate ADGP-rank officers with 25 to 30 years of service if DGP-ranked officers are unavailable. The UPSC then shortlists three names, from which the state appoints one.
Since the UPSC's mandate is to shortlist three names from a pool of multiple contenders, its role becomes limited when only three names are sent. Therefore, the state revised the list to 11 officers who meet the eligibility criteria, the official explained.
Current DGP-Ranked Officers and Contenders
Odisha currently has four DGP-ranked officers besides Khurania: Sarangi, Nath, Koche, and Vinaytosh Mishra. Mishra, currently serving as Director General (Crime Branch), is out of contention as he retires in November, failing to meet the six-month residual tenure requirement from the date of the incumbent's retirement. According to speculations, Sarangi and Koche are viewed as front-runners, while Panda and Jethwa are emerging as strong contenders for the top post.
Call for Merit-Based Appointment
Retired Deputy Superintendent of Police S K Pattnaik emphasized that the appointment should be merit-based, with suitability judged on service records and range of experience. Although political considerations and the chief minister's decision play a role during appointments to top posts, the UPSC and the government should ensure the best officer is selected, Pattnaik added.
